Tehran is tense, two days after Iran's unprecedented direct attack on Israel.

Worried about war and its impact on Iran's already flailing economy, a significant proportion of Iranians oppose what they see as the reckless adventurism of the country's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which fired more than 300 drones and missiles on Saturday night.

In a letter sent to BBC Persian, a long list of Iranian activists both inside the country and abroad criticised the IRGC's actions and saying "No to warmongering!"

Many Iranians also see the Iran-Israel confrontation now emerging from the shadows as being orchestrated by the Iranian government rather than reflective of the will of the Iranian people.

This perception is underscored by a heavy police presence on the streets of Tehran - ostensibly about enforcing strict Islamic dress codes requiring women to cover their hair but which many suspect is mainly about crushing any possible protests.

Some decision-makers fear that if Iranian security forces and the IRGC's command centres are hit in a war with Israel and the US, this could reignite nationwide protests that erupted in 2022 after the death of a young woman in police custody.

Some graffiti has appeared on walls in Iranian cities - "Israel, strike the supreme leader's [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's] house," reads one. "Israel hit them, they lack the courage to retaliate," read another.

The government has its own billboards - "Tel Aviv is our battleground, not Tehran," reads one.

Immediately after the IRGC attack, supporters of the Islamic Republic celebrated and a banner warning Israelis that "the next slap will be fiercer" was hung from a building in Tehran.

"I believe it was the right decision to attack Israel to prevent further killings of Iranian commanders in Syria and elsewhere," one woman said in a voice message sent to BBC Persian.

But another said: "Iranians themselves are in a state of war with the current regime. We harbour no animosity towards any nation, including Israel."

Meanwhile a woman said she was concerned about a wider war. Such fears appeared to prompt people to scramble to stock up on essentials like food and fuel, with pictures showing queues forming outside petrol stations in Tehran and supermarkets inundated with shoppers.

With the official inflation rate standing at just over 40% and tens of millions of people struggling with the cost of living, a military confrontation with Israel was the last thing most Iranians wanted.

The value of the Iranian rial fell against the US dollar after the IRGC attack, as it had already done after Israel's earlier attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria.

Many worry that, sooner or later, the military escalations will hike the prices of many goods, from mobile phones to home appliances and many foodstuffs.

The Iranian government sets the price of some essential items such as bread and fuel, and lets many items be imported on a preferential exchange rate (in other words cheap foreign currency). But still the price of many goods follow the open market exchange rate.

Iran's economy has been struggling since the US left an international deal to limit Iran's nuclear activities in 2018 and re-imposed crippling sanctions, particularly curbing Iran's ability to export crude oil.

On Tuesday, Iranian newspapers were focusing on international pressure on Israel to show restraint but also attempting to allay any economic concerns.

Iran's press - which reflects a range of political viewpoints, albeit within unwritten rules - has been largely supportive of the IRGC action

Keyhan insisted that there was "economic calm by showing Iran's power". Hardline Vatan-e Emrouz said Sunday night's emergency UN Security Council meeting called by Israel was a "night of isolation" for Israel, while reformist newspaper Arman-e Emrouz noted a "global wave to end tensions in the Middle East".

Online, the Islamic Republic's supporters have been posting under the Persian-language hashtags #punishing_the_aggressor and #we_made_them_regretful.

However critical posts under the English hashtag #IRGCterrorists have swept Persian-language X, urging Western countries to designate the IRGC a terrorist organisation and paying tribute to protesters that they say the IRGC and other security forces killed during the 2022 nationwide protests.

Popular former footballer Ali Karimi, based outside Iran, meanwhile posted a photo of intertwined hands overlaid with the Israeli flag and a previous version of the Iranian flag that was in use before the 1979 Islamic revolution.

"We are Iran, not the Islamic republic," he said.






https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68823348

This movie go sweet... Israel retaliate abg...

The implosion of Iran will be from within.

The west will support any force that rebels against the extremist in power. They will give them weapons and cover fire to smash the heads of the Iranian ruling class. Iran will self destruct with the West doing the damage from within by sponsoring dissent.


The only hope for Iran are Yaribaaaaa RONU and MURIC supporters. Who need to stop protesting foolishly in NIGERIA and relocate to Iran as backup personnel.

Poor Iran! A country that was once wild and free of Islamic encumbrances now wrapped in the hijab of a terrorized state. I’m certain that the majority of her citizens will be averse to a war against Israel which has backing from Western countries.

The wicked flees while no man pursueth, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Nah you go look for trouble, nah you dey panic. Iran wait! Israel will surely reply you back and it will be brutal. Gat no pity for fanatic Islamic terrorists.

Iran is gone, someone should bookmark this comment. Nothing will save them.

Galloping inflation and an unpopular government trying to start an unpopular war because of personal ego, sounds familiar? As you drag Iran, understand that that is exactly how the rest of Africa would have been begging Russia to deal with us, if the BAT had had his way against Niger.

When Isreal make a promise, they keep it. Those shouting Iran is not Palestinians, I ask, can Iran withstand more than 300 missiles at once? Who will help them to shoot down the Isreali drones?Where will they see the nuclear weapons to use when Isreal strike those sites? Isreal strike will surely be to cripple Iran security architecture. Isreal sheath drone will enter Iran undetected. Hell fire will rain on them that day. Cries to UN will be heard from Iran and some nairalanders.

These people are not serious. They claim that their government is oppressive, but when they travel to Europe they want to keep practicing the oppressive culture they are running away from.
Were they not jubilating when Iran attacked Israel?

9japride:
These people are not serious. They claim that their government is oppressive, but when they travel to Europe they want to keep practicing the oppressive culture they are running away from.
Were they not jubilating when Iran attacked Israel?

That is their Hallmark..

We saw Palestines celebrate Hamas carnage as Israel stated returning fire, the celebrants started playing victims now almost 80% of them are homeless and back to the STONE age

.. Without the support of US and it allies Iran will beat Israel wotowoto.It will be like a boxing match between Anthony Joshua and Bobrisky .Israel that can't even defeat Hamas till date but they are busy killing innocent children and women in Gaza.

BBC propaganda. The moment I read about "covering hair" in the article, I just knew it was a concoction to whip up sentiments.

Nahunger:


That is their Hallmark..

We saw Palestines celebrate Hamas carnage as Israel stated returning fire, the celebrants started playing victims now almost 80% of them are homeless and back to the STONE age

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Israel is not like some European countries that are too diplomatic.
They should stop looking for trouble.

jchioma:
Poor Iran! A country that was once wild and free of Islamic encumbrances now wrapped in the hijab of a terrorized state. I’m certain that the majority of her citizens will be averse to a war against Israel which has backing from Western countries.

You know nothing about Iran before the west imposed a leader on them. You know absolutely nothing of Iran.

9japride:
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Israel is not like some European countries that are too diplomatic.
They should stop looking for trouble.

Trouble is the only way they create fear in the heart of terrorists and fear alike, know that their existence alone is threatened by all their neighbors.

Nahunger:


Trouble is the only way they create fear in the heart of terrorists and fear alike, know that their existence alone is threatened by all their neighbors.

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That's true.

LoL. Muslim terrorists love overestimating themselves even at the point of death. They have the same mindset like that of a typical agbero in Nigeria.

9japride:
These people are not serious. They claim that their government is oppressive, but when they travel to Europe they want to keep practicing the oppressive culture they are running away from.
Were they not jubilating when Iran attacked Israel?

I agree with you but I doubt if those people you are referring to are Iranians inclusive . Most Iranians are not religious extremists. They are just unlucky to have islamic terrorists as leaders. Their case is similar to that of Nigeria.

rantingpigs:
The implosion of Iran will be from within.

The west will support any force that rebels against the extremist in power. They will give them weapons and cover fire to smash the heads of the Iranian ruling class. Iran will self destruct with the West doing the damage from within by sponsoring dissent.


The only hope for Iran are Yaribaaaaa RONU and MURIC supporters. Who need to stop protesting foolishly in NIGERIA and relocate to Iran as backup personnel.

They said more than this about Russia.

sunboy:


You know nothing about Iran before the west imposed a leader on them. You know absolutely nothing of Iran.

You should be telling me what you know and forget what you don’t know about Iran.

iSense247:
I agree with you but I doubt if those people you are referring to are Iranians inclusive . Most Iranians are not religious extremists. They are just unlucky to have islamic terrorists as leaders. Their case is similar to that of Nigeria.

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Iranians are good people, but you can't take away their religious practices from them.
They hardly change when they migrate to for example a Christian country.
It's something 8 don't still understand.

We are Iran not the Islamic Republic!