Missile attack exposes deep divisions among Iranians

Iranians are expressing a mixture of pride, uncertainty and fear after their country launched a massive ballistic missile attack on Israel on Tuesday night.

Within minutes of the attack starting, Persian social media feeds were filled with scary videos showing the flashes of missiles flying overhead.

Iranian state television broadcast images of groups of people cheering in the streets, waving flags and chanting “Down with Israel”.

But the mood online was different, with not everyone expressing support for the attack.

After decades of keeping their conflict largely in the shadows, some shared tense scenes and heated debates about a possible war between the arch-enemies.

The contradictory reactions exposed deep divisions in Iran, where there is widespread discontent in the clerical establishment and frustration over the economic troubles caused by sanctions.

On one side of the debate are those who support the government’s actions with nationalistic pride, while on the other are those who fear war, economic collapse, and further repression of domestic reform movements.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Tuesday’s missile attack successfully targeted Israeli military and intelligence targets and was retaliation for recent killings of leaders of its allies Hamas and Hezbollah.

The Israeli military described the attack as “indiscriminate” and said that although it was largely thwarted by air defenses, it caused many casualties and caused millions of Israelis to flee into bomb shelters.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Iran will pay for a “big mistake”.

For many supporters of the Iranian government, the attack represents a proud moment of defiance.

“Well done [Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei! Bravo to the Revolutionary Guards!” a young woman screamed in a clip that went viral.

Such sentiments dismayed other Iranians online.

“Please distinguish between the people and the Revolutionary Guards; We are under a lot of pressure,” pleaded a middle-aged man in a video shared on social media.

Some Iranians felt that the attack was an unnecessary provocation that would result in their lives becoming even worse.

“We have no choice but to defend our country, but we are the ones who bear the consequences,” said a worried resident of the capital, Tehran.

Hours after the attacks, rumors emerged that Israel might respond by targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure, a vital part of the country’s economy.

Videos quickly emerged showing huge crowds at petrol pumps and people standing in long queues to fill their vehicles due to fears of future shortages.

The missile attack also dashed hopes for diplomatic progress with the West and other countries in the region.

The election of Massoud Pezeshkian as the new president in July had sparked optimism among liberal-minded people. Some saw them as a potential bridge in reducing regional tensions.

But a BBC Persian viewer lamented that “the attack is a step away from diplomacy and a step closer to conflict”.

“I fear that this war could be used as an excuse to intensify the crackdown on us,” said one youth activist, referring to the nationwide “Women, Life, Freedom” protests that began two years ago. Fighting for freedom.”

Many worry that a new conflict could not only weaken demands for reform, but also empower the government to suppress internal dissent.

Unlike the previous standoff, this time there is a growing fear of a potentially strong retaliation from Israel.

And many believe that Israel’s advanced military capabilities could bring unprecedented destruction if a full-scale war broke out.

“Nobody wants war, not even the people, not even the officials,” said one commentator on social media.

This sense of insecurity has made the situation more uncertain than ever.

Amid rising tensions, some people also called for regime change.

Another viewer of BBC News Persian urged the West to support Iranians in their struggle against the government, saying, “The only way to save Iran is not through war, but by overthrowing the existing regime.”

However, many believe that the future of the country should be decided internally, free from any foreign interference, to avoid potential chaos caused by external interference.