MONITOR BLACKOUTS

“Iran's security forces open-fired on protesters in at least six different neighborhoods in Tehran. There were accounts of people being shot in the head, in the eyes. Similar massacres were unfolding in cities across the country. It's unclear how many people were killed by security forces. One human rights organization estimates the number to be around 7,000, but it could be even larger.”

“Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had just been killed in an airstrike. Many of the people I spoke with were critical of the regime, like the vast majority of Iranians. Their spirits seemed high. People in the streets, we were chanting slogans and making the victory signs, saying, military help from Israel and the United States. It's here. It finally happened.”

“One of his favorite things to watch was an anime adaptation of Anne of Green Gables. She was an outsider just like him. And he noticed other things. Like in the school scenes, the boys and girls weren't separated. They were together, sitting side by side, interacting with each other. He wished his school was like that. So much so, that before going to sleep at night, he would imagine himself sitting in that classroom.”

“When it came to Trump's call to overthrow the government, many of those opposed to the regime said it didn't make sense to take to the streets and protest. It was too dangerous. One source told me her friend's daughter was shot and killed on the street by what she described as pro regime forces. Because our neighbor who was a civilian was killed in an attack. Another told me her neighbor was at work when he was killed by an airstrike.”

“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.”

“He urged the Iranian people to rise up against the government. 'Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.' But then bombs started to fall. People did not rise up. And so I wondered, what did Iranians think of this new war and the president's call to action?”

“But then, my husband and I, we think that we really belong to this country. It's so rich in every aspect that you cannot go live somewhere else. You know, we need meaning, and Iran is my meaning of life. I prefer a hard life with meaning to an easy life empty. So it's like this, you know, for me.”

“It's like, if I can little by little change this part of the society which is very conservative and religious, that they accept that I am also a part of this society. I accept they are also a part of this society. Let's just get along with each other. This is the best way, I think, for Iran. When I saw that women are actually not wearing the hijab on the street anymore, it was really amazing.”

“The Iranian government had effectively cut off the country from the rest of the world. The number I kept seeing was 99%. 99% of Iranians who normally had access to the internet now didn't. I was trying to reach the remaining 1%. These would be people with workarounds like VPNs or enough money to afford satellite communications like Starlink that could get them online for even just a few minutes.”

“I cannot call it hopeful. It was out of desperation. I was waiting for that moment. I know, hearing those missiles nearby, it can be horrible. But I think this is the cost of getting rid of this regime. And we have to pay it. I'm still hoping. I'm still hoping. I hope that the US and Israeli militaries will accomplish what protests couldn't.”

“The Iranian government had effectively cut off the country from the rest of the world. The number I kept seeing was 99%. 99% of Iranians who normally had access to the internet now didn't. I was trying to reach the remaining 1%. These would be people with workarounds like VPNs or enough money to afford satellite communications like Starlink that could get them online for even just a few minutes.”

“Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had just been killed in an airstrike. Many of the people I spoke with were critical of the regime, like the vast majority of Iranians. Their spirits seemed high. Many of those people were grieving. But others were angry and pledged to fight against the American and Israeli invaders. One Iranian who supported the regime said he heard people chanting death to Trump.”