Iran International
Videos emerging from Iran despite a near-total internet shutdown reflect a rare mix of jubilation, fear and expectation as US and Israeli strikes leave the country’s future suddenly bound to the outcome of the war.
Shortly after the strikes began, Iran’s connection to the global internet was almost entirely severed, dropping to a reported minimum of around four percent—enough to meet what observers describe as government needs.
Nevertheless, some citizens used circumvention tools such as Psiphon and satellite connections via Starlink to share footage from targeted areas or contact relatives abroad.
In one viral clip shared on X, the sound of residents in an apartment complex clapping can be heard. A woman lets out a celebratory ululation, while a man shouts, “Damn Khamenei.”
Another video filmed in Tehran after news spread of the killing of senior official Ali Shamkhani, captures the sound of cheering and car horns. In footage from Shiraz, the steady thud of anti-aircraft fire is heard alongside chants of “Death to Khamenei.”
Some who do not see war as a solution expressed conflicted emotions.
“What a strange morning," one X user wrote. "War was not our choice or decision. Most of us feel a mix of worry, a sense of vindication, anger, hope, scattered thoughts, and many other contradictory emotions. Each person may highlight one feeling at a given moment.”
Users with access to social media reported heavy traffic across Tehran, long lines at gas stations, and crowded supermarkets and bakeries.
Arian, a Tehran resident who told Iran International he had chosen to stay, said some people had already left before the strikes began, adding that he witnessed some cars and motorcycles honking in apparent celebration.
One citizen, in a video sent to Iran International, said: “This war is not our war. It’s Trump’s war with the hateful Islamic regime. We pray that Trump wins this war, because if he wins, the people of Iran will be free.”
In yet another clip, residents are heard tracking missiles across the night sky, shouting in excitement as they pass overhead. Videos circulating online also show teenage students in girls’ and boys’ schools chanting and celebrating.
Officials 'safe and sound'
Supporters of the Islamic Republic, too, organized collective displays of loyalty, including public prayers at several universities, declaring resistance against US and Israeli attacks a matter of faith and pledging allegiance to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The government has not confirmed the death of any top-ranking officials so far.
Satellite imagery circulating online appears to show that Khamenei’s compound in central Tehran—near the presidential complex and other key government buildings—has been largely destroyed. Authorities have not publicly commented on the extent of damage or Khamenei’s condition.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News hours after the attack that “almost all officials of the country are safe, secure and alive,” adding: “We may have lost a few commanders may have been killed, but that’s not a big problem.”
Fears of Unrest
Unlike during the 12-day war in June, the Supreme National Security Council issued a statement only hours after the fighting began, advising residents of Tehran and other major cities to leave for safer areas.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said necessary arrangements had been made in tourist provinces to accommodate those departing the capital and other large cities.
A political activist in Tehran told Iran International that, given US President Donald Trump’s renewed promises to support regime change, the government likely feels a severe threat.
Encouraging residents to leave major cities, he argued, may be aimed at preventing collective opposition movements or attempts to seize government institutions.
