Amir, a student at the University of Tehran, once looked to Donald Trump as a savior for Iran’s oppressed population. Now, after weeks of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that have killed hundreds and devastated cities, he says: ‘You are all worse than each other.’

The sentiment is growing among anti-regime Iranians, who initially welcomed the prospect of U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran’s hardline regime. They had hoped for an end to the authoritarian rule that has dominated the country since the 1979 revolution. But after the war has led to the destruction of cultural landmarks, fuel depots, and residential areas, many are questioning the intentions of the foreign powers involved.

The Turning Point: Strikes on Fuel Depots

The Israeli attack on the Shahran oil depot in Tehran last week was a key moment for many Iranians. The attack left the capital shrouded in black smoke and layers of toxic oil after a rainstorm. Amir said the incident changed his perception of the war entirely. ‘I genuinely believe now they [the U.S. and Israel] didn’t have a plan,’ he said. ‘If the regime is what you want to hit, even if you think these depots were used by the regime, where do you draw the line? What about us, the ordinary Iranians?’

The Shahran attack was not the only one. Other strikes on fuel depots and infrastructure have left ordinary Iranians questioning the logic behind the foreign strikes. ‘Why take away our ability to govern in the future? Who can rebuild utter ruins?’ Amir asked.

Cultural Destruction and the Fear of Iraq

The war has not only targeted military and economic infrastructure, but also cultural sites. Tehran’s Golestan Palace, dating to the 14th century, and the 17th-century Chehel Sotoon Palace in Isfahan have been severely damaged. ‘How will they rebuild … a priceless part of history?’ a student in Tehran asked. ‘And how will we bring back people who are dying? Is that it? Is the message from abroad that just because the regime doesn’t care, the world shouldn’t?’

The fear of Iran becoming another Iraq, as the U.S. did in 2003, is growing. Many Iranians now see the pattern repeating itself: promises of freedom followed by chaos and destruction. ‘My heart is so heavy,’ Amir said. ‘I don’t even have tears left. Only anger and more anger. At this regime, and them,’ he added, referring to the U.S. and Israel.

Another student from Karaj, a city west of Tehran that has been under heavy bombardment, said: ‘I want this regime gone. I asked for help from Trump.’ But the student is confused by the targeting of civilian infrastructure. ‘When did this plan change and why are they hitting our infrastructure?’ he asked.

Historical Context: Resistance and Repression

Iran’s history is marked by waves of protest and repression. The 2009 Green Movement, sparked by disputed presidential elections, was met with a bloody crackdown. In 2022, the Woman, Life, Freedom movement began with the death of Mahsa Amini in custody over her alleged improper wearing of the hijab. That movement led to widespread protests and one of the deadliest crackdowns by security forces in recent history.

The current wave of protests began in late December with small-scale strikes in Tehran’s bazaar over plunging currency. As the protests spread, they evolved into mass rallies that were met with lethal force from security forces, killing thousands. ‘What we fear most is the war stopping now in its current stage,’ said a doctor who treated protesters for gunshot wounds in January. ‘Then we’ll be left with the same people who massacred us last month … only stronger.’

Many in the anti-regime movement are now hearing reports of newborn babies being killed in airstrikes. ‘Now three governments, rather than one, are killing Iranians,’ a protester in Tehran said. ‘A significant portion of the people I’ve been speaking to, after witnessing the killing of civilians, have altered their perception of military intervention.’

Earlier this week, the protester described the first time in Tehran that they had experienced ‘something resembling the idea of carpet bombing. Several neighbourhoods in the city centre were attacked in a sequential, wave-like manner.’

The sentiment among anti-regime Iranians has shifted dramatically. Where once there was hope, now there is despair. The destruction of infrastructure, culture, and lives has left many questioning the intentions of the U.S. and Israel. ‘You are all worse than each other,’ Amir said. ‘I feel worse when I am alone. Khamenei’s death has left us with this weird sense of emptiness. Like I am now forced to think about the future, which seems so chaotic right now.’

The war has left a deep scar on Iran. With the regime still in power and the country under heavy bombardment, the question remains: what comes next for a nation that has lived under authoritarian rule for over four decades?