Silence between two fires: The psychological reality inside Iran

March 20, 2026

Iran's civilian population currently faces dual threats from external military strikes by the US and Israel alongside internal repression by the state. Following December protests, security forces have intensified surveillance through armed checkpoints where they inspect phones and question citizens, while the judiciary threatens punishment for anyone perceived as supporting foreign powers. The government provides minimal civilian protection during bombings—no shelters or warning systems—forcing residents to make desperate survival calculations like gathering on rooftops during attacks.

Who is affected

Iranian civilians across multiple cities
Families of protesters killed during January and February demonstrations
Members of the Iranian diaspora (facing property seizure threats)
Children attending school in cities like Bushehr
Patients seeking medication (specifically mentioned: a child needing chemotherapy in Tehran)
Pedestrians and drivers stopped at checkpoints
Social media users whose phones are inspected

What action is being taken

Israeli and US forces are conducting missile strikes and airstrikes on Iran
Soldiers and Basij militia are patrolling roads, operating checkpoints, stopping cars, questioning pedestrians, and inspecting phones
The Iranian government is imposing communication blackouts and severe internet restrictions
Security forces are conducting arrests and executions
State television is broadcasting warnings from Iran's judiciary chief

Why it matters

This situation matters because millions of civilians are trapped between external warfare and internal authoritarian repression, creating extreme psychological and physical danger. The dual threat system forces adaptive survival behaviors where silence is misinterpreted as consent when it actually reflects fear of life-threatening consequences. The absence of civilian protections (shelters, warning systems) during indiscriminate bombing, combined with state surveillance and threats of execution for dissent, creates conditions where ordinary people must constantly calculate risk for basic survival. This represents not just a geopolitical crisis but a humanitarian and psychological one affecting how people think, speak, and make daily decisions under circumstances beyond their control.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices