Iranians are marking the start of their New Year, Nowruz, amidst a backdrop of war and repression. The 3,000-year-old festival, which celebrates the arrival of spring, has been overshadowed by the ongoing conflict.
Zahra, a grandmother living in a Tehran suburb, is one of many Iranians struggling to maintain contact with loved ones due to the regime's internet blockade. "My children are restless. Not being able to hear their voices is driving me insane," she said.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that 10 people were recently arrested for "co-operating with foreign media" and two others for "creating psychological insecurity in society through cyberspace", quoting Iran's Ministry of Intelligence.
War and Its Impact
Nearly four weeks since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, the country is facing a growing humanitarian crisis. The number of reported deaths has climbed towards 3,000, with more than half of those being civilians.
Outside Zahra's home, the residue of "black rain" left after US and Israeli strikes on oil depots covers the ground. Despite the challenges, Iranians are preparing to mark Nowruz, symbolically cleaning their homes and welcoming the new year.
Regime Support and Opposition
The government's supporters have been filling the streets to denounce the US-Israeli campaign, but it is impossible to gauge how much popular support there is for regime change due to the current climate of censorship and war.
Samar, a student in Tehran, believes that the regime's supporters are willing to die to protect it, and that overthrowing the clerical power could lead to civil war. "They think its fall means the end of their religion," she said.
Ceasefire and the Future
Zahra is scornful of the idea of a ceasefire, saying that the regime has inflicted too much pain on the Iranian people. "I prefer that there be no ceasefire until this entire regime is gone," she said.
The state retains the repressive power, military capability, and a strong enough support base to continue fighting. Any ceasefire will likely leave the current rulers in place and capable of surviving, at least in the medium term.
Additional reporting by Alice Doyard and Josh Cheetham, BBC Verify, highlights the complexities of the conflict and the challenges faced by Iranians.
