Many Iranians are expressing concern about a potential return to widespread conflict as elections in Israel and the United States approach, coupled with increased threats from leaders and a U.S. military buildup in the region. This apprehension is amplified by Iran's own defiant stance despite mounting pressure.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing a close election, has stated that Iran's leadership must be eliminated. U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to "finish the job" in Iran, with a third aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops deploying to the region. Some fear potential attacks shortly after the U.S. midterm elections on November 3.
Interviews with residents in Tehran reveal growing anxiety, with some contemplating leaving the capital. Iran's president has accused the U.S. of disrupting ongoing negotiations that have seen little progress. Fereshteh Hajipour, a 35-year-old mother, described stockpiling essential medicines and food in anticipation of a "possible war and bigger bombs."
According to Sasan Karimi, a former government official and University of Tehran professor, Iran's leadership anticipates further U.S. strikes, regardless of the midterm election outcomes. "They've accepted that he will attack us again, before or after the elections," Karimi said, adding that Iran is preparing contingency plans.
Iran has reiterated threats against U.S. military bases and allies in the Middle East. The country has also warned of potential attacks on new targets, including undersea data cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This month has recorded the highest number of reported attacks on commercial vessels transiting the strait since the war's initial weeks in March.
Meanwhile, a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports has significantly curtailed oil exports, a critical revenue source for the Iranian government, thereby intensifying economic pressure on both sides. Truck traffic has accumulated at borders as Iran redirects its trade to overland routes. The blockade has also led to medicine shortages within Iran, though supplies of food and other necessities appear stable. Iranians have witnessed their purchasing power diminish as the national currency's value has hit record lows, losing substantial ground over the past year amid soaring inflation.
Iranian officials have publicly accused the U.S. of orchestrating unrest. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran's parliamentary chief, stated that "economic warfare is the main axis of the war against us." President Masoud Pezeshkian described Iran as facing "a dangerous turning point" as the government grapples with economic challenges and internal political divisions.
Memories of nationwide protests, triggered by economic hardships and resulting in a deadly crackdown before the war, remain vivid. Even middle-class Iranians are finding it difficult to afford basic groceries, with prices for staples such as rice and beef increasing dramatically since the war began. Mohammad Mohammadi, 36, noted that a single supermarket trip can consume half of a mid-range monthly salary.
Despite rising costs, Mohammad Abedi, 39, increased his family's supplies, including dates, cooking oil, and rice, due to concerns over escalating attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. "I'm worried that the situation could get worse," he said.
Political moderates are advocating for a deal with the U.S. to stabilize the economy. However, Karimi believes that economic pressure will not alter Iran's negotiating stance. "No economic pressure will convince people here to make a deal," he asserted, adding, "Tehran is calculating based on resistance, because they are convinced that will change the calculations of the other side."
There has been limited public discussion about mediated negotiations following President Trump's rejection last month of an Iranian proposal to end the war and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran still bears the marks of U.S. and Israeli strikes, with numerous buildings damaged or destroyed during the war's peak in March and April.
Hashem Vajdani, a 45-year-old gym trainer, plans to relocate from the capital due to growing unease. "I have already packed my belongings to go to a safer town in the north of the country," he stated, mentioning his purchase of additional canned food, crackers, and blankets.
Concerns persist about a higher civilian toll should new fighting erupt, adding to the thousands already killed in the war. President Trump has previously threatened to target power plants and other infrastructure.
A billboard in a prominent Tehran square features a Trump impersonator in a cage, with footage of a deadly strike on a wedding party in southern Iran playing behind him. Farzaneh Arabzadeh, 30, expressed a hope that such a scene would materialize, stating that Trump, despite his claims of helping Iranians, has worsened their situation.
The upcoming elections in Israel and the U.S. are anticipated to reflect voter discontent over the war and other issues. Analyst Rahman Ghahremanpour suggests that a Netanyahu victory in Israel would increase the likelihood of an all-out war due to his propensity for risk-taking. However, many Tehran residents believe that neither election will lead to an improvement in U.S.-Iran relations, with Rasool Ghanbari, 50, stating, "It makes no difference. Their hostility toward us remains unchanged."