Tehran Residents Unable to Sleep Soundly Amid Rising US-Iran Tensions
A Tehran resident named Hamid has admitted he struggles to sleep due to fears that conflict will once again engulf the Iranian capital, following last year's 12-day war with Israel.
"I cannot sleep well at night even after taking medication," Hamid told AFP on Sunday (22/2/2026).
He also expressed concern for the health of his family, his children and grandchildren.
Tehran was shaken by overnight explosions on 12-13 June last year, when Iran's arch-enemy Israel launched an unprecedented military campaign. The result was an exchange of hostilities between Iran and Israel.
The strikes prompted Iran to respond with drone and missile attacks, resulting in thousands of deaths in Iran and dozens in Israel.
Iran has now resumed talks with the United States, with Tehran insisting that discussions be limited to the nuclear issue, although Washington had previously pushed for Iran's ballistic missile programme and its support for armed groups in the region to also be on the agenda. However, the diplomatic outcome remains uncertain.
Earlier on Thursday, US President Donald Trump said "bad things" would happen if Tehran failed to reach a deal within 10 days, a deadline later extended to 15 days.
Against this backdrop, Hamid worries about his children and grandchildren.
"I have lived my life, but they haven't done anything good in their lives — they haven't had fun, haven't been comfortable, haven't had leisure time, and haven't had peace," he said.
"I want them to at least experience life for a while. But I'm afraid they might not get that chance."
Other residents share similar concerns. Hanieh, a ceramic artisan from Tehran, believes war will break out "within 10 days".
The 31-year-old woman has stockpiled basic necessities at her home to prepare for a possible military strike by the United States following its military build-up in the region.
"I'm increasingly frightened because my mother and I went through a great deal of hardship during the last 12-day war," she told AFP.
"We had to flee to another city," she added.
Meanwhile, another resident, Mina Ahmadvand (46), also believes another conflict is imminent.
"I think at this stage, war between Iran and the US as well as Israel is unavoidable and I have prepared myself for that possibility," the IT technician told AFP.
"I bought a dozen canned foods including tuna and beans, as well as several packets of biscuits, bottled drinking water, and some extra batteries, among other items."
"I cannot sleep well at night even after taking medication," Hamid told AFP on Sunday (22/2/2026).
He also expressed concern for the health of his family, his children and grandchildren.
Tehran was shaken by overnight explosions on 12-13 June last year, when Iran's arch-enemy Israel launched an unprecedented military campaign. The result was an exchange of hostilities between Iran and Israel.
The strikes prompted Iran to respond with drone and missile attacks, resulting in thousands of deaths in Iran and dozens in Israel.
Iran has now resumed talks with the United States, with Tehran insisting that discussions be limited to the nuclear issue, although Washington had previously pushed for Iran's ballistic missile programme and its support for armed groups in the region to also be on the agenda. However, the diplomatic outcome remains uncertain.
Earlier on Thursday, US President Donald Trump said "bad things" would happen if Tehran failed to reach a deal within 10 days, a deadline later extended to 15 days.
Against this backdrop, Hamid worries about his children and grandchildren.
"I have lived my life, but they haven't done anything good in their lives — they haven't had fun, haven't been comfortable, haven't had leisure time, and haven't had peace," he said.
"I want them to at least experience life for a while. But I'm afraid they might not get that chance."
Other residents share similar concerns. Hanieh, a ceramic artisan from Tehran, believes war will break out "within 10 days".
The 31-year-old woman has stockpiled basic necessities at her home to prepare for a possible military strike by the United States following its military build-up in the region.
"I'm increasingly frightened because my mother and I went through a great deal of hardship during the last 12-day war," she told AFP.
"We had to flee to another city," she added.
Meanwhile, another resident, Mina Ahmadvand (46), also believes another conflict is imminent.
"I think at this stage, war between Iran and the US as well as Israel is unavoidable and I have prepared myself for that possibility," the IT technician told AFP.
"I bought a dozen canned foods including tuna and beans, as well as several packets of biscuits, bottled drinking water, and some extra batteries, among other items."