Iranians have been reacting to US President Donald Trump’s threat that he will destroy Iran’s power plants and bridges unless the country reopens the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said in a profanity-laden social media post on Sunday that “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day all together, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!”
Trump reiterated his threats this Monday, ensuring that Iran will return to the “stone age” and will be left without power plants or bridges if there is no agreement before Tuesday night (early morning on Wednesday in Iran).
He stated that “the entire country could be wiped out in one night, and it could be tomorrow night.”
“All the bridges in Iran will have been destroyed by 12 midnight tomorrow,” he said.
Iranian officials have mocked the US president’s deadline, with a presidential aide saying his “insults and nonsense” were the product of “sheer desperation and anger.”
The BBC has managed to speak to several Iranians – all opponents of the current government – despite the fact that it is very difficult to contact people inside Iran due to the cyber web blackout imposed by the authorities more than five weeks ago.
Their names have been changed for their own safety.
“We can’t do anything”
Kasra, who is in his twenties and lives in Tehran, said: “I feel like we are sinking deeper into a quagmire. What can we do as ordinary people? We can’t do anything. We can’t stop it. [a Trump]. I keep thinking about a scenario where, a month from now, I’m sitting with my family with no water, no electricity, no nothing. And someone blows out the candle and we go to sleep.”
While Iranian state television has been showing videos of well-stocked grocery stores, the BBC has heard that some people are stockpiling supplies and fear water supplies could also be affected.
“My mother is filling all the bottles she finds in the house with water,” said Mina, also in her 20s and from Tehran.
“I have no idea what we are going to do now. I think more and more people in Iran have realized that Trump doesn’t care about them at all. I hate him with all my heart, and I also hate those who support him.”
a red line
In January, as anti-government protests spread across the country, Trump told protesters, “Help is on the way.”
But it did not intervene when Iranian security forces launched an unprecedented crackdown, leaving at least 6,508 protesters dead and another 53,000 arrested, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists Files Agency (Hrana).
Some of the Iranians the BBC has spoken to initially saw the US and Israeli attacks as the help they had been promised. But most now view attacks on energy infrastructure as a red line.
“I have thanked Israel and the United States for almost everything they have hit so far,” said Arman, a young man in his twenties from Karaj, west of Tehran.
Iranian media reported that 13 people were killed and nearly 100 wounded in a bombing of a bridge under construction in Karaj on Thursday.
“They must have had good reasons for these [los lugares que han atacado]. But I swear: hitting a power plant just paralyzes the country. It only gives the Islamic Republic an advantage. “I live one kilometer from the biggest power plant in Karaj, and if they attack it, there will be nothing but misery for me.”
Radin, also in his mid-20s and living in Tehran, said: “If attacking targets in the country brings down the Islamic Republic, I agree. Because if the Islamic Republic survives this war, it will stay forever.”
The economic pressure
Many of the Iranians the BBC spoke to are concerned about the economic impact of the war.
Bahman, who is in his 20s and lives in Tehran, said: “I think Trump is afraid of what Iran is going to do. I’m sure Iran will attack the entire region in retaliation.”
“As far as I’m concerned, I no longer have a routine, and I can’t even go to work with this situation, because I’m a construction supervising engineer and right now no one is building anything. Some small companies have already started laying off their employees.”
Jamshid, who is in his thirties and runs a restaurant in Tehran, said his business is “no longer the same as before.” [de la guerra]. I am not optimistic about the situation. I figure I can last a month, maybe two at most. The rent is destroying me. “It is 200 million Tomans per month (US$1,270).”
That figure is high compared to the average monthly salary, which is estimated between US$200 and US$300.
Most people the BBC spoke to continue to pay high prices to access the cyber web. The main way to do this has been Starlink’s satellite cyber web.
But using or having Starlink in Iran carries a penalty of up to two years in prison, and authorities have reportedly been searching for the antennas to prevent people from connecting.
Cyber web access is being sold on the Telegram messaging app for about $6 per 1GB of data.
“I feel like I’m losing my mind. I didn’t even renew my cyber web package, which I’m paying so much for,” said Marjan, in her mid-20s from Tehran.
“What’s the point if Trump attacks the energy infrastructure? I’m distraught. My parents too… argue about anything now. I tell myself that I’m fine, but I’ve already had three nervous breakdowns today.”
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- “The entire country could be eliminated in one night”: Trump threatens to destroy bridges and power plants if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz in the next few hours
- How food supplies to Iran are affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz
- How Iran is using children for wartime security
