Mood among some in Iran shifts from hope of being rescued to dismay at destruction of infrastructure, culture and lives
After years of arrests, disappearances and mass killings of protesters, the hatred in Iran from some quarters for the hardline, oppressive governing regime had boiled into such a desperate rage that many believed Donald Trump’s promise that the US would “come to their rescue”.
Now, after a fortnight of war, with US and Israeli airstrikes killing hundreds as they hit residential blocks, shops, fuel depots and even a school, the mood is changing.
“They are also lying! Like the regime has been lying to us,” said Amir*, a student at the University of Tehran. “You are all worse than each other.”
The anti-regime protester has let himself hope for more from the US and Israel, which on the first day of the war had swiftly killed Iran’s most feared and powerful man, the supreme leader.
I’m not saying any of this is justification for what Trump is doing, just that it’s understandable why people who fled their country might be excited to see change happen. So much so that they would willingly cheer him on. I had an Iranian friend flat out tell me the Americans could take most of the oil and it would still be a huge win for the Iranian people compared to what they have now. They want their freedom. They’re happy to see the guy who kills people getting killed, and I think there’s room to empathize there.
Does that make sense?