Israel’s recent large-scale air strikes on Iran have ignited a powerful wave of reactions among Iranians, both within the country and in exile. The attacks, launched last Friday, provoked a swift response from Tehran in the form of missile barrages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video address that same day, directed a message not only at Iran’s leadership but also at its people. He asserted that while Israel’s goal remained halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, “we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your freedom.”
This statement struck a chord with various segments of Iran’s fractured opposition. While some exiled groups and individuals welcomed Netanyahu’s message, others responded with skepticism or outright distrust. The lack of organized opposition within Iran itself, due to decades of repression, has made it difficult to gauge a unified stance. The government has long suppressed dissent through imprisonment, mass executions in the 1980s, and tight restrictions on civil liberties. This has pushed much of the organized opposition outside the country, particularly figures like Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last Shah, and the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organisation (MEK), both of which are among the most prominent groups working in exile.
Contacting ordinary Iranians for comment has grown increasingly difficult as the authorities continue to limit internet and social media access, especially during times of unrest or foreign military threats. Despite these constraints, several young Iranians opposed to the regime have spoken out anonymously in recent days, describing their fear, disillusionment, and conflicting feelings about the current situation.
Tara, a 26-year-old who has participated in past protests, described how the authorities manipulate infrastructure and communication during Israeli attacks. “When Israel issues evacuation warnings ahead of strikes, authorities shut off internet access so that people don’t find out and the death toll rises,” she said. According to Tara, the regime also creates traffic congestion by setting up toll booths and checkpoints. “Talking about patriotism, unity, and standing up to the enemy is absurd,” she added. “The enemy has been killing us slowly for decades. The enemy is the Islamic Republic!”
Israel has been using platforms like Telegram and X to warn civilians in Iran, but both apps are banned in the country. With reduced internet access, many Iranians cannot access these alerts. This digital blackout further isolates citizens during crises and magnifies their vulnerability.
Sima, 27, expressed resignation and fatigue rather than hope or outrage. “I wish Israel would get the job done as soon as possible. I’m exhausted,” she admitted. “Although I’m still not a fan of Israel or what it’s doing, I hope they’d finish what they’ve started. Wishful thinking, I know. But I want them to rid us and the world of the threat of the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps], [Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei and ayatollahs as a whole.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, oversees the IRGC, the elite unit charged with protecting the Islamic Republic and its ballistic missile arsenal. The Israeli strikes have resulted in the deaths of numerous high-ranking IRGC members, including commander Hossein Salami.
Some young Iranians were even more unequivocal in their endorsement of Israel’s military actions. Amir, a 23-year-old, voiced full support. “100%,” he said when asked if he backed the attacks. “Not the UN, not Europe, not even us. We tried, remember? And they killed us in the streets. I’m joyful when the people who’ve crushed our lives finally taste fear. We deserve that much.”
Amir was referencing the 2022 nationwide protests that erupted after Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, died in police custody following her arrest for allegedly violating the dress code. The Iran Human Rights group, based in Norway, documented 537 protester deaths during the ensuing crackdown. While international observers decried the bloodshed, Iranian authorities claimed “security forces acted with responsibility,” blaming the unrest on violent demonstrators and foreign influences.
Netanyahu invoked the protesters’ rallying cry — “woman, life, freedom” — in both English and Persian during his recent speech, urging the Iranian people to rise and “let your voices be heard.” While the Iranian government has not officially responded, hardline figures and state-aligned media have mocked the Israeli leader’s remarks. Officials have also issued stern warnings against circulating statements or propaganda from Israel or the U.S.
Still, not all Iranians opposing the regime believe Netanyahu has their best interests in mind. Navid, a 25-year-old activist who was briefly detained during the 2022 protests, voiced deep concern. “I participated in the protests because I had hope for a regime change then. I just don’t see how the regime could be overthrown in this conflict without Iran itself being destroyed in the process,” he said. “Israel is killing ordinary people as well. At some point, people will start to take the side of the Islamic Republic.”
Darya, 26, interpreted the public silence in Iran as a direct answer to Netanyahu’s appeal. “I think the fact that people are not coming out to protest is already a clear response,” she observed. “I wouldn’t go even if Israel bombed my house. Netanyahu is hiding behind Iranian nationalist slogans and pretends he’s helping Iranians reach freedom while he’s targeted residential areas. It’s going to take years just to rebuild the country.”
For many, the situation has grown too morally and emotionally complex to pick a side. Arezou, 22, captured this confusion. “I hate the regime, and I hate what it’s done to us. But when I see bombs falling, I think of my grandmother, my little cousin. And I’ve seen what Netanyahu did to Gaza — do you really think he cares about Iranians? This isn’t about us, it’s about [Israeli] politics,” she said. “I feel like I have to choose between two evils, and I can’t. I just want my people safe. I want to breathe without fear.”
Mina, 27, echoed this sentiment, voicing frustration and sorrow at the limited choices left to her generation. “I want this regime gone more than anything — but not like this. Not through more bombs, more death,” she said. “Israel is not our saviour. When innocent people die, it’s not a step toward freedom, it’s another form of injustice. I don’t want to trade one kind of terror for another. I’m against this regime and also against this war. We deserve a better way out than this.”
As the conflict escalates and the violence intensifies, Iranians — particularly the youth — are left to wrestle with a complex blend of anger, grief, exhaustion, and hope. While some see Israel’s intervention as a possible catalyst for long-awaited change, others fear it may only bring more destruction without delivering true liberation. The road to freedom, for many, remains as uncertain as ever.