On the sixth day of the US and Israeli military operation against the Islamic Republic, accounts emerging from inside Iran paint a complex picture of daily life during the ongoing crisis. Residents say that in major cities – especially Tehran – life continues with a mixture of fear and hope despite the constant sound of powerful explosions. Many shops remain open, bakery lines are either crowded or quiet depending on the time of day, petrol stations are not experiencing major congestion, and in food markets, there appears to be no serious shortage; not on the surface at least.
However, a new wave of price increases has pushed many families to the brink of hunger and cast a heavy shadow over daily life. Many people say they can no longer afford even basic necessities or to set aside a small supply of food for emergencies. Their daily purchases have increasingly come to resemble an old Persian expression that “relief comes from one pillar to the next”. Essentially, living day to day in the hope that circumstances will improve.
