Iran is caught between the powers and the people who are paying the price for the governments' excesses with their lives.

Iran, in the midst of a power struggle, has become a stage where people pay the price for the governments' excesses with their lives, security, and livelihoods.

Rather than being a sign of change for the benefit of the people, recent developments in Iran paint a disturbing picture of a nation caught in the middle of power games, where behind-the-scenes decisions and political rivalries are directly tied to the daily lives of citizens.

In days when hope and anxiety are simultaneously present in society, some accounts from the heart of Tehran describe this dual situation well. One citizen, whose identity is being withheld, describes the general mood: “After the assassination of Ali Khamenei and Donald Trump’s speech in which he addressed the Iranian people and said that he had kept his promise and asked us to stay home for now and come to the streets at the right time to take back Iran, a wave of enthusiasm and joy formed in society. Hope was so great that it overcame every other feeling, including fear of the sound of rockets and bombs exploding, but now a deep concern has arisen in the hearts of the people. They are extremely afraid that the United States will reach an agreement with the Iranian regime and leave the defenseless people alone with a government that is now even more wounded.”

This sudden shift from hope to concern shows that people fear, more than anything else, a repetition of the bitter experiences of the past; experiences in which political agreements not only failed to improve the situation, but sometimes even strengthened the means of internal repression.

On a broader level, the possibility of an agreement between governments has become a central topic of everyday conversation. Some see it as a sign of a retreat of sovereignty, while others see it as simply part of a complex political game. But what is less considered is the position of ordinary people, who are neither involved in the decisions nor immune from their consequences.

Another citizen, referring to the prevailing security environment, says: "If you just monitor the news about the head of the judiciary in the last few weeks, you will understand the reason for the deep concern of the people. He constantly threatens young protesters with murder and execution. Thousands of young people were killed in January, and now the rest are being tortured and slaughtered in prisons."

Such narratives show that the cost of these conflicts is not limited to the economy. Along with the pressures of livelihood, concern for the lives and future of the younger generation has become a serious concern for families; to the point that, according to some, the main wish of many parents is only for their children to survive.

Meanwhile, some popular analyses also emphasize a deep distrust of diplomatic processes. One elderly citizen says: “Unlike us Iranians, America and Europe do not know this deceitful government well. Even though this government has deceived the international community many times, they still sit down at the negotiating table with it.”

Alongside these developments, there are signs of increased internal control, from communication restrictions to the presence of security forces throughout the city. This situation, many believe, indicates that even if external tensions subside, the pressure on society may increase.

One social observer says: "Everyone I know around me is angry but still hopeful that the preparations for the overthrow and eventual uprising are being made. However, concerns cannot be hidden."

The sum of these narratives presents a clear picture of a bitter reality: "People who, in the midst of power competition, have become tools for advancing political goals. They not only bear the burden of economic crises, but also face more and more threats to life and security every day."

In such circumstances, the fundamental question remains: "How long will the Iranian people have to pay the price for decisions they had no role in shaping?"