Concern and belligerence: How Iran looks toward a counterattack

After Iran’s attack, the big question is: Is there a threat of a military response from Israel? Criticism of the mullahs’ regime is unwelcome in Iran – but can still be heard sporadically.

“I have no safe place, no protection,” says a housewife from Tehran. She is therefore not thinking about Israel counterattacking Iran, “because I have no choice.” She thinks that many people feel the same way as she does.

A father who runs a grocery store says life actually goes on as normal. The 40-year-old believes an Israeli counterattack is unlikely: “In my opinion there will be no war.” He feels safe. A 55-year-old plumber is also calm: “As long as Israel doesn’t attack, I won’t think about it.” If the Israeli military wants to attack, he will do so. But nothing has happened so far.

“If it starts, we’ll go to war”

A 25-year-old man who works in a kebab shop in Tehran is much more combative: “When it starts, we’ll go to war against Israel. It doesn’t matter which country attacks us. We’ll fight.”

The Iranian regime would probably like such tones. On the other hand, the leadership in Tehran is currently trying to dispel the impression of a real threat of war. The government said that this one attack on Israel would be the end of the matter.

Iranian regime wants to dispel fears

At the same time, Israel and its allies, especially the USA, were also warned not to attack Iran. The response to this will be even more decisive. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani once again defended the attack on Israel today. They acted this way with good reason.

“The Iranian government does not seek to further increase tensions in the region,” says Kanaani. “But we will continue to take action against any illegal, unlawful and international aggression and transgression of Iran’s borders in the future.”

“We as citizens are powerless”

Such statements could increase fears of further military escalation. “I’m worried about a possible counterattack by Israel and I’m sure it’s coming and that it will be bad,” says a currently unemployed civil engineer, for example.

But she doesn’t prepare much for it. “Because we as citizens are powerless and can’t do anything anyway.”