Citizens in Iran fear that help will never actually arrive after US President Donald Trump delayed a potential strike, N12 reported on Tuesday.
“I’m angry at the world. I’m angry because nothing is happening. And because Trump promises and then does nothing, I’m angry,” said Sara, a resident of Mashhad.
Trump reportedly called off strikes on Iran after he decided that the potential benefit wasn't worth the consequences. He also told reporters that he decided against striking the regime after they claimed to stop executing protesters, and that he "greatly respect[ed] the fact that they canceled."
Currently, CENTCOM has announced it is conducting a multi-day readiness exercise "to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the US Central Command area of responsibility."
Iranian citizens have questioned when or if the American forces moving toward Iran will take action, hoping for Trump to stick to his attack plan.
Iranian civil sources clarified that, at the moment, their most urgent request is for President Trump to help the population by launching an attack against the Revolutionary Guards, the Basij, and the military forces.
Alireza, a Tehran resident, explained to N12 that this would be the only way to "give people a chance to go out into the streets and take over important government centers."
Internet gradually returns to Iran
With the internet gradually returning to Iranians, civilians revealed to N12 that the regime is pushing for an appearance of normalcy in the streets.
"Either there needed to be international support for these people before they acted and went out into the streets, or the people needed to be armed," Amit Reza, 40, from Tehran, told N12.
Unfortunately, a fist against a bullet doesn’t work, and we lost fighters who could, in any case, have been an asset to the struggle for our country’s freedom, people we could have used effectively when there was a shortage of active forces,” he explained.
Marjan, 33, told N12 that despite the regime's push for normalcy, civilians continue to live in fear, particularly about the internet disappearing again.
“We can’t do anything in Iran,” said Marjan. “It really feels like suicide. Going out into the street is equivalent to suicide. It has nothing to do with courage or fear. Nothing at all. Anyone who goes out into the street has already passed the stage of courage – it’s stupidity," she said.
Shir Perets contributed to this report.