‘Even under missiles we carry on living’ – how young Iranians are coping with war

Even under missiles we carry on living

As the Persian New Year, Nowruz, approaches in just over a week, Tehran remains under the shadow of ongoing conflict. The city, home to nearly 14 million people, has seen its usual bustle disrupted by air strikes targeting oil facilities, which have left skies dark and rain tinged with smoke. Yet, amid the chaos, daily life persists in subtle ways.

Sahar, a young woman in her twenties, shared her experience with BBC Persian. She described how many days are spent indoors, with routine activities like cooking and reading offering a sense of normalcy. “The war has actually sharpened my creativity,” she said, explaining how she finds solace in building more elegant virtual homes within her favorite video game. However, the emotional toll is evident. Sahar revealed that a former classmate was killed in an attack on Tuesday, and her body remains unaccounted for. “Why must our youth endure such devastation?” she asked, expressing a longing for the springtime celebrations she cherishes.

“I think my creativity has increased during the war. I’m constantly stressed and end up building prettier homes in the game.”

Peyman, a man in his thirties, noted the eerie silence that has settled over the city. “The metro is empty. So empty that for every person, there are 30 or 40 vacant seats,” he remarked. Streets, once lively with activity, now feel deserted, creating an atmosphere where even a game of football could be played without interruption. For others, like another local in his thirties, the war has disrupted sleep patterns. “I go to sleep around six or seven in the morning and wake up at 2pm,” he said, adding that grocery runs are necessary but increasingly isolating.

Some residents have chosen to leave Tehran for safer areas. Mina, a young woman in her twenties, is now in Rasht, a city north of the Caspian Sea. She recounted her family’s insistence on relocating to stay with her grandmother, while her flatmate and best friend opted to remain. “I felt guilty for leaving without her,” Mina said, describing the night her flat trembled from the attack. “All the windows lit up as if it were morning.” The next day, she and her family finally moved, navigating polluted rain that left their car streaked with stains. “We talk on the phone about all the exciting things we’ll do once the war ends,” she added, hinting at plans like dyeing their hair lighter.

Amid the communication blackout, tech-savvy Iranians are turning to Starlink to stay connected. The satellite internet system, functioning like a mobile phone mast in space, enables users to access the web via small ground dishes linked to a WiFi router. However, its use is risky, with users facing up to two years in prison. Mehran, a young man in Tehran, shared his Starlink device with at least 25 others, hiding it “somewhere remote” to avoid detection. “Internet access is being sold on Telegram for $6 per 1GB,” he noted, highlighting the high cost in a country where average salaries range from $200 to $300 monthly.

“You have to buy it from someone you trust, otherwise there’s a chance they will cut off your internet after you’ve paid a hefty sum.”

Despite the challenges, Starlink has become a lifeline for those seeking to stay in touch with the outside world. Monitoring group NetBlocks reported on Wednesday that the internet blackout has severely limited contact within Iran, making these devices essential for maintaining a semblance of normalcy during the crisis.