Iranians prepare for infrastructure strikes as the Trump deadline approaches: "We're sinking deeper."

 

Tehran's Azadi sports complex was bombed at the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran (Image: EPA)

The threat by US President Donald Trump to destroy Iran's power plants and bridges unless it opens the Strait of Hormuz has prompted ordinary Iranians to respond. "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran," Trump wrote in an expletive-laden social media post on Sunday. There will be nothing like it!!!."

 A presidential aide stated that his "insults and nonsense" were motivated by "sheer desperation and anger." Iranian officials have mocked his deadline of 20:00 ET (01:00 BST Wednesday). The BBC has managed to talk to several Iranians - all opposed the current establishment - even though it is very difficult to contact people inside Iran due to an internet blackout imposed by the authorities more than five weeks ago.

 For their own protection, their names have been changed.

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"It feels like we're sinking deeper into a swamp," stated Kasra, who is in his 20s and lives in Tehran. What can we do as ordinary people?  Nothing can be done for us. Trump cannot be stopped by us. I keep picturing a scenario in which, in a month, I would be sitting with my family with nothing but water, electricity, and nothing else. The candle is then extinguished, and we fall asleep." The BBC has heard that some individuals are stockpiling and are concerned that the water supply might also be disrupted, despite Iranian state television showing videos of grocery stores that are well-stocked.

Mina, who is also in her 20s and hails from Tehran, stated, "My mother is filling every bottle she can find in the house with water." "I've no idea what we're going to do now.  I think that more and more Iranians are realizing that Trump has no interest in them at all. I hate him from the bottom of my heart, and hate those who support him too."

The Mahshahr Petrochemical Complex in south-western Iran was struck on Saturday (Image: Reuters)

In January, when deadly anti-establishment demonstrations swept the country, Trump said that "help is on its way" to the protesters.  According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana), he did not, however, intervene when Iranian security forces launched an unprecedented crackdown that resulted in the deaths of at least 6.508 protesters and the arrest of 53,000 others. The US-Israeli strikes were initially viewed as the promised assistance by some of those the BBC has been speaking with. However, the majority of them now consider attacks on energy infrastructure to be illegal. "I've thanked Israel and the US for almost all of what they've hit so far," said Arman, in his 20s and from Karaj, west of Tehran.  Iranian media reported that a bridge under construction in Karaj was bombed on Thursday, resulting in 13 deaths and nearly 100 injuries. "They [the hit sites] must have had good reasons for them." But I swear, hitting a power station just paralyses the country.  It only serves to support the Islamic Republic. I live about a kilometer from Karaj's largest power plant, and if they hit it, my life will be nothing but misery." Radin, also in his 20s and living in Tehran, said: "About them hitting energy infrastructure, using an atomic bomb, or levelling Iran.  I'm fine with all of these, which is my honest response.

"Or any other idea they might have. If attacking targets in the country brings down the Islamic Republic, I'm fine with that.  Because the Islamic Republic will remain forever if it wins this war.

Iran says more than 30 universities have been hit, including Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran(Image: EPA)

The BBC talked to a lot of people who are worried about how the war will affect the economy. Bahman, who is in his 20s and lives in Tehran, said: "I think Trump is scared of what Iran is going to do.  I'm sure that Iran will hit everywhere in the region in retaliation."

 "When it comes to me, I don't have a routine anymore, and the fact that I'm a building superintendent engineer and nobody is building anything at the moment means that I can't even go to work. Employee layoffs have already begun at some smaller businesses. Jamshid, who owns a restaurant in Tehran and is in his 30s, stated that his business was "not the same as before [the war]." I don't have high hopes for the situation. I think I can hold off on this for at most a month and a half. My back is hurting from the rent. It's about 200 million tomans per month. $1,270; £960; €1,100]."

 Compared to the median monthly salary, which is estimated to be between $200 and $300, this is quite high. The BBC has talked to most of the people who are still paying a lot for internet access. The main route has been via sharing connections through those who have satellite internet Starlink systems.

However, in Iran, using or possessing Starlink is punishable by up to two years in prison, and authorities are said to have been looking for the dishes to prevent connections. Internet access is being sold on the Telegram messaging app for around $6 for 1GB of data.

 "I feel like I'm losing my mind.  Marjan, a Tehrani woman in her 20s, stated, "I even didn't renew my internet package for which I am paying so much." "What's the point if Trump hits energy infrastructure?  I'm devastated. Additionally, my parents currently argue over the smallest matters. Although I keep telling myself I'm fine, I've already experienced three mental breakdowns this day.

SOurce: BBC