‘Even under missiles we carry on living’ – how young Iranians are coping with war
Even under missiles we carry on living
As the war continues to disrupt daily life, the Iranian capital experienced snowfall on Tuesday night, blanketing the streets in white after prolonged air strikes on oil facilities. The strikes had turned the skies dark and the rain tinged with soot, but the resilience of its people endures. For many, the struggle is not just physical but emotional, as they navigate the pressures of survival while clinging to hope.
Stories of survival and quiet resistance
Sahar, a young woman in her 20s, shared how she adapts to the chaos. “I’ve noticed my creative spirit has grown during the conflict. I spend my days indoors, cooking, reading, and playing a simulation game where I build better homes than reality allows,” she told BBC Persian. Her account highlights the mental escape many seek, even as the war tightens its grip.
“Why do we have to experience such horror when we’re in the prime years of our youth? I just want this to end before Nowruz. My favorite days are the early days of spring,”
The Persian New Year, Nowruz, is fast approaching—less than a fortnight away. Traditionally a time of family gatherings and festive shopping, Tehran’s markets and streets this year feel subdued. Yet, the city’s residents insist life persists, no matter the circumstances.
Peyman, a man in his 30s, described the eerie calm that has settled over the city. “The metro is empty. So empty that for every passenger, there are dozens of vacant seats. The streets are almost silent—quiet enough to imagine playing football in the middle of the road,” he said. His words capture the paradox of daily existence in a place where the air is heavy with tension.
Relocation and lingering guilt
Amid the escalating conflict, some have chosen to leave Tehran. The capital and its surrounding areas, home to 14 million people, have seen residents flee to safer regions. Mina, a 20-something woman, now resides in Rasht after her family urged her to relocate. “I felt guilty for leaving my flatmate behind, even as the tremors from the attacks rattled our home,” she recalled. “The night they struck the oil depots, our windows lit up like dawn, and I feared for my family’s safety.”
Though she eventually joined her family in Rasht, Mina still keeps in touch with her friend. “We talk about the things we’ll do once the war is over—maybe even dye our hair lighter,” she added, hinting at the small joys that remain in a time of uncertainty.
Starlink as a lifeline
With the government’s internet blackout, tech-savvy Iranians have turned to Starlink devices to stay connected. This satellite network functions like a mobile tower in the sky, relaying signals through a constellation of satellites to small ground dishes equipped with WiFi. Despite the risk of up to two years in prison for using it, the service has become critical for those seeking to communicate with the outside world.
“You have to buy it from someone you trust, otherwise they might cut off your connection after you pay a hefty price,”
Mehran, a 20-something in Tehran, shared how he shares his Starlink access with others. “I’ve hidden the device somewhere remote to avoid detection. I let family members use it for free, but the price for 1GB of data on Telegram is about $6—more than most can afford,” he said. The system remains a symbol of defiance in a nation grappling with economic strain and information control.
Monitoring group NetBlocks reported that the internet blackout has made contact with those inside Iran increasingly challenging. Yet, the determination to stay informed and connected shows how deeply the war has reshaped the lives of its younger population, even as they continue to endure.