Middle East
Under a Blackened Sky, Iranians Navigate War and Regime Threats
Residents of Tehran say they are caught between bombs and security forces warning of a swift crackdown on any dissent.
Photographer: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images
It’s normally the time Iranians are busily preparing for the Persian New Year holiday to mark the return of spring and the power of light over darkness. This year, they’re caught between enduring a foreign bombardment and a hardline theocracy trying to assert its authority following the biggest turmoil in the Islamic Republic’s history.
“Yesterday the sky turned black because an oil depot exploded,” said Goli, who lives in a large residential complex in western Tehran. “It was really terrifying. There was a black layer on all the cars. We’re not going out anymore.”