Iranians Caught Between U.S. Bombast and Regime Repression as War Rages On

The Trump administration’s manufactured war with Iran has been sold as a fight to topple a brutal regime and protect American interests. But what about the people living under this relentless pressure? According to Holly Dagres, a Tehran native and expert on Iranian affairs, Iranians are reeling from the devastating consequences of U.S. and Israeli attacks — suffering civilian casualties, internet blackouts, and a government crackdown that shows no sign of easing.

Dagres, speaking to PBS NewsHour, paints a grim picture of life inside Iran amid the conflict. The state-imposed internet shutdown—now in its sixth week—makes it difficult to get a full picture, but what leaks out is deeply troubling. Iranians are confused about the war’s purpose and fearful for their survival. The January massacre of protesters, followed by promises of aid from the Iranian president, has been overshadowed by a ceasefire that leaves the regime firmly in power, crushing hopes for meaningful change.

The inflammatory rhetoric from the U.S. has only escalated fear. President Trump’s chilling social media post warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” sent waves of panic through Iranian communities, with families fearing nuclear strikes on their homes. The White House later backtracked, but the damage was done — sowing terror rather than hope.

Initially, some Iranians who opposed the regime saw U.S. pressure as a potential path to liberation, but the war’s brutal toll and the regime’s survival have shifted perspectives. The Islamic Republic is now more emboldened and repressive than ever, arresting over 1,500 protesters and executing at least 10 since the uprising in January. The regime’s control of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz further consolidates its power, not weakens it.

Claims from U.S. officials that many Iranians want continued strikes are misleading. The war’s goals have morphed from regime change to degrading military capabilities, leaving the population worse off. The Iranian people overwhelmingly desire an end to both the war and the regime’s oppression, but the current conflict only deepens their suffering.

Perhaps most striking is the shift in Iranian attitudes toward the U.S. Once considered among the most pro-American populations in the Middle East, many Iranians now view America with skepticism and fear, a direct consequence of the war’s devastation and the administration’s aggressive posture.

This conflict is a stark example of how authoritarian overreach and foreign aggression can converge to crush the very people they claim to protect. The Trump administration’s war with Iran is not a fight for democracy or freedom — it is a dangerous power play that leaves ordinary Iranians caught in the crossfire, facing repression at home and bombs from abroad. We will keep tracking the fallout from this reckless policy and its human cost.