As Iran enters the second month of a nationwide and deadly uprising aimed at toppling its religious establishment—an uprising met with exceptionally harsh repression—new and striking voices are now emerging from within the country: expressions of hope for decisive and even devastating military action by the United States and Israel.
The protests began last month with strikes by market traders and were soon joined by residents of cities and rural areas alike, united around the demand to overthrow Iran’s clerical rule. What followed, however, was one of the most severe crackdowns in Iran’s modern history. With more than 30,000 protesters reportedly killed, and thousands more wounded or imprisoned, the movement has entered a new and uncertain phase.
After Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s former crown prince, called for mass street demonstrations during the second week of protests—and the call was met with widespread participation—the government intensified its response. According to protesters and activists, Iranian authorities deployed not only their own military forces but also Shiite proxy militias recruited from parts of the region, leading to the large-scale killing of unarmed civilians. Days earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump had described the killing of protesters as a “red line,” warning that such actions would trigger a serious response against Tehran.
Weeks later, despite repeated warnings by Trump on social media and in public speeches—and amid the reported killing of thousands of demonstrators—U.S. warships and military assets have been deployed to the Middle East and positioned around Iran. This buildup has triggered sharply divided reactions among Iranians regarding the prospect of war involving the United States or its regional ally, Israel.
Babak, a 28-year-old employee of a service company in the city of Isfahan, told NOW the country’s situation has deteriorated to the point where he no longer has the emotional capacity to speak about his personal concerns. “I’m just following the news to see when they will attack—America or Israel—so that we can finally hear some good news,” he told NOW. Babak worries that any military action could be limited in scope, similar to the recent U.S.-Israeli strikes between 13 and 24 June 2025, and adds: “If there is only a short or symbolic confrontation, or if negotiations and compromises follow, the end result will be a stronger and more entrenched repressive regime.”
In recent days, the scale of U.S. military deployments across the Middle East have reached what observers describe as an unprecedented level, suggesting preparations consistent with a full-scale conflict. Yet at the same time, and amid these heightened tensions, Trump has repeatedly stated that he remains open to resolving the Iranian issue through negotiations—a position that Iran’s government has also publicly welcomed. Several regional and European countries have sought to position themselves as intermediaries in these potential talks.
Niousha, a 20-year-old university student in Tehran, told NOW that during the previous U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran’s covert nuclear facilities and military centers, she actively hoped such action would lead to the collapse of what she calls Iran’s “corrupt and ideological regime.” “I know that certain lobbying groups, using anti-war and human rights rhetoric, are trying to silence the real voice of society,” she said. According to Niousha, similar efforts in the past attempted to co-opt protest movements and divert them from their core demands. She argues that the Islamic Republic’s violent repression has plunged society into a state of collective shock and deep anger, adding that she would only feel a sense of calm after witnessing the complete removal of the regime and the prosecution of its leaders.
Over nearly five decades of ideological rule, Iran has witnessed numerous waves of protest, but none have been as deadly as the current unrest. During the September 2022 nationwide protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young woman detained for allegedly violating mandatory hijab rules, more than 500 people were killed, and some detainees were later executed. In the November 2019 protests, triggered by a sudden overnight increase in fuel prices, more than 1,500 demonstrators were killed. Earlier, in June 2009, protests over electoral fraud in the presidential election resulted in the deaths or executions of over 100 people.
Not all voices, however, support the idea of foreign military intervention. Samira, a 33-year-old employee at a medical complex in Tehran, told NOW that “war brings enormous destruction.” “Foreign powers cannot bring democracy,” she said, adding that “any decision about Iran’s future must come from within Iranian society itself.” Asked about her preferred political system, Samira noted that while support for monarchy appears to be growing, she would vote only for a democratic form of government in a free election.
Iranian society now finds itself waiting for a decision by the U.S. president—whether to pursue military action aimed at overthrowing the government or to enter negotiations—while grappling with a series of deep and overlapping crises. These include systemic government failure in providing basic services such as water, electricity, and gas; high unemployment; soaring inflation; entrenched corruption; severe environmental degradation; the continued collapse of the national currency; and the sustained repression of civil liberties, extensive internet censorship, and the absence of free media.
Hamed, a 40-year-old children’s clothing shop owner in a commercial complex in the southern city of Ahvaz, argues that the United States and Israel are justified in attacking the Islamic Republic. “This ideological regime is not focused on developing the country or serving its people but on the destruction of Israel and what it calls resistance to American imperialism.” He told NOW.
According to Hamed, the United States seeks stability in the Middle East, and Iran’s current government is among the primary sources of regional instability. “If this regime falls,” he said, “it will be a win–win outcome for both the American government and the Iranian people—because we, as unarmed protesters, simply do not have the power to defeat such a violent and repressive state.”
This report was compiled amid a continued buildup of U.S. troops, weaponry, and naval forces across the Middle East, even as both Tehran and Washington publicly emphasize their commitment to pursuing non-military solutions through regional negotiations. Against this backdrop, it remains unclear what the coming days and nights will hold for the Persian Gulf region and Iran itself.
Armin Soleimani is a Middle East reporter
The views in this story reflect those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of NOW.
