War scars spread across capital but Iran’s government holds tight grip

Tehran is living with the constant sound of war — anti-aircraft bursts overhead, distant explosions, and the uneasy rhythm of a capital under attack. Yet two weeks into the conflict, the government of Iran appears firmly in control.

Missile strikes from Israel and the United States have left visible scars across the city. Entire buildings lie flattened. Checkpoints and police stations have been repeatedly targeted. But daily life continues in cautious fragments: markets open, shoppers prepare for Nowruz, and residents move through the streets with a wary calm.

Many families have already fled the capital. Those who remain say survival — not politics — now dominates their thoughts.

Defiance from Tehran’s leadership

The war comes just weeks after unrest and protests shook the country, but authorities are projecting continuity. Huge banners of Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei and his assassinated father Ali Khamenei line the capital’s highways.

Officials insist the leadership remains intact despite speculation about internal turmoil.

Deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh struck a defiant tone, calling the war illegal and warning Washington against deeper escalation.

If the US sends ground forces, he said, it should “remember Vietnam War” — a conflict that left deep scars on American military strategy.

Civilians bear the cost

Away from the rhetoric, ordinary residents are absorbing the human impact.

One elderly man sifted through the blackened remains of his apartment after a missile strike on a neighbouring building. The blast shattered windows and filled the home with dust and debris. His wife and daughter were rushed to hospital with shrapnel wounds and broken bones.

Hospitals themselves have not been spared in the strikes, residents say, forcing injured patients to leave quickly once treated.

Across Tehran, the fear is constant and immediate. Each night residents listen for the next explosion, wondering whether the building next door — or their own — will be the next target.

Tehran is dotted with the scars of war - but Iran's government seems firmly in control