Image source, Reuters
With the arrival of spring in northwestern Iran, traffic on the highways has increased and many Iranians are returning to their homeland.
“I stayed in Turkey for a month with my son,” said a bank employee near the Turkish border.
“Especially in the northern cities, military sites were targeted by Israeli and American airstrikes, but they did not attack civilian infrastructure or homes,” he explained about the five to seven weeks of conflict. After a two-week ceasefire, some Iranians are now returning to their areas.
“I’m still somewhat afraid,” said an elderly woman wearing a headscarf. She detailed the suffering of young people—from the explosives dropped in crowded residential areas to the threats by Iranian paramilitary patrols on the streets. “Everything is in God’s hands,” she said, pointing toward the sky.
Some have expressed doubts that this ceasefire will last long. “Iran will not relinquish control over the Strait of Hormuz,” asserted a woman in a red leather jacket, claiming the ceasefire will not hold.
One individual entering Iran from across the Turkish border expressed anger at the US president. When asked about peace, he said, “Trump will not let Iran go easily; he wants to swallow us up!”
Due to closed air routes, access to Tehran is only possible by road.
On Wednesday, US President Trump said in an interview with Fox Business News that although US armed forces have the capability to destroy all of Iran’s bridges and energy centers within an hour, they do not wish to do so.
Traveling from Turkey to Tehran by road takes 12 hours. Due to missile attacks last week that destroyed a bridge, travelers must use a winding rural route.
Image source, IRNA News Agency
Legal experts say that attacks on civilian infrastructure may violate international human rights law and could be classified as war crimes. However, the US and Israel claim their strikes have been restricted to military targets only.
During this journey, destroyed barracks of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were also observed. Military, police offices, and factories in the Tabriz region have also been targeted.
New banners adorn Iranian highways depicting the three highest leaders since the 1979 revolution. These include images from former Supreme Leader Ruhollah Ali Khamenei to the initial supreme leader who died early in the war, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Also featured is the current declared successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, who reportedly suffered severe injuries during US strikes but has not appeared publicly.
He is said to be active in forming new political and security policies after this conflict. Iran is advancing with strategies for negotiations with longtime adversaries on sensitive issues such as its nuclear program and the Hormuz waterway.
Uranium Discussed in Talks
Details were released Wednesday about a 21-hour long meeting in Islamabad between a delegation led by US Vice President J.D. Vance and another led by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
A spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said their country demands a complete end to the war, the lifting of sanctions, and compensation for damages caused by US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
According to Washington sources, the US demands that Iran halt uranium enrichment, dismantle enrichment centers, remove enriched uranium stocks, open the Strait of Hormuz, and cease financial support to groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Iran rejects the US demand to suspend uranium enrichment for 20 years, proposing instead a suspension for five years.
Iran also refused the US request to hand over 440 kilograms of enriched uranium.
Although President Trump has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and oil tankers, including the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran shows no signs of conceding. Trump’s statements suggest he expects Iran to soon succumb to military and economic pressure and surrender.
Powerful Iranian military commander Ali Abdollahi has threatened to block imports and exports through the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea.
Image source, EPA
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir is in Tehran mediating between Iran and the US. He has arrived to intensify mediation efforts and resolve bilateral differences.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt has indicated ongoing discussions about a second phase of talks between the US and Iran, also mediated by Pakistan in Islamabad. There are talks about extending the ceasefire scheduled to end next week.
Analysis from Washington suggests that the direct war or aggressive phase towards the US may end soon. Although there are internal divisions within Iran about the country’s future, the nation is currently managing the evolving situation and moving forward.
Before the war in Iran, nationwide protests occurred. When the government used force against demonstrators, thousands were killed.
Although harsh sanctions were lifted following the agreement with the US, it remains uncertain whether the Iranian populace hopes for genuine change.
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