GB News, on Iran, 28 October 2026

7.3out of 10Serious

Iran conflict: Iranians trapped under as fears of war grow - 'Life here is truly hell!'

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Exclusive 'Life here is truly hell!' Iranians trapped under brutal regime reveal nation in despair as fears of war grow Their testimonies, given in defiance of the brutal authorities in Tehran, describe a country at breaking point Sign up to the World News Newsletter I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. Email address Sign up By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules.

Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us Four Iranians, risking their lives to speak out, have described to GB News the mental torture of being trapped in the war-torn, . Day-to-day life was always oppressive before the devastating war that broke out in February.

Cities and military sites were blitzed by joint US/Israeli strikes across Iran, ordered by Donald Trump, . After weeks of relentless attacks and thousands of deaths, an uneasy ceasefire began. But as they wait to see if the President presses the ‘attack button’ once again, things are going from bad to worse. And as depression and hopelessness spread, they believe Britain is too scared to help over fears of attacks and assassinations here.

Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture

The article does not say that the US and Israeli strikes killed thousands of people, a point the outlet's earlier report states. A reader is left with 'thousands of deaths' and no one responsible for them.

How we know

TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The identities of the four, all opposed to the current rulers, have been withheld for their safety. Their testimonies, given in defiance of the brutal authorities in Tehran, describe a country at breaking point. And the picture all four paint is eerily similar when it comes to the question of the mood on the streets. "The feeling of the Iranian people right now is waiting," said one man, a shop owner, "And this waiting causes depression.

Iranian society is very sad at the moment." Another source was much more blunt. "Everyone is hopeless and depressed," he said. Asked whether he felt secure about the near future, his reply was just brief and to the point: "I have no sense of security at all." There is some defiance under the fear, and . "The people of Iran are worried," one said, "but they are firmly certain that this government will fall.

They are waiting for a good opportunity to come out into the streets." Another was cautiously optimistic. He said both he, his family and friends were: "waiting to see what the future holds. Whatever others may think, my view is that the world will come to the conclusion that it has to open channels of communication with Iran. Once the world's doors open to us, we'll have a good life." Four Iranians, risking their lives to speak out, have described to GB News the mental torture of being trapped in the war-torn, evil Islamic regime | GETTY But day-to-day life is not getting easier, and if consumers here in the UK think they are struggling with ever-increasing prices, it’s nothing compared to what they face.

One man we spoke to put inflation at "over 300 per cent", an unverifiable figure but one that reflects what faces them in the shops as they try to live their lives. He described considering buying a car, something that he soon forgot all about when he saw the soaring cost: "The price of the Peugeot 207 rose 15 per cent in a single day. You may not believe it, but life here is truly hell." Running shops fairly and honourably has become difficult.

The shopkeeper we spoke to said he sees despair in the eyes of his customers. "Life has become very difficult," he said, “For 60 to 70 per cent of people, it's only about getting food and essential necessities. I have a shop myself, and I see how people's purchasing power has dropped." As society and community fractures, and the government lose control some unscrupulous people are taking advantage. One person said: "As things get worse, even though everyone tries to adapt, the structure of society is breaking down.

Corruption is spreading, and theft and fraud are increasing." LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Donald Trump says US 'may do' another military operation against Iran as midterms loom King sends clear message on Strait of Hormuz crisis as monarch hails Oman's 'noble efforts' British fighter jets to be deployed to Saudi Arabia to help in fight against Houthis Day-to-day life was always oppressive before the devastating war that broke out in February | GETTY Some are quietly cashing in, with one source adding: "Merchants and shopkeepers: while everyone complains about high prices, some are making large profits from these very price hikes.

Now that the government has no oversight of prices at all, they're profiting the most." The striking feeling from all four of those brave enough to speak was that the near future was not going to get any better. One predicted that a "major war" was imminent as they watch political manoeuvrings in Israel and the US. "The only thing holding it back is the elections in America and Israel," he said, "Everyone is waiting." As they wait for rescue, they also wait to see where the next meal is coming from.

"Most people are thinking about food,” one said, “and I'm sure that if war happens, famine will come and many people may be harmed." Another one of the four was equally downbeat. "It's unimaginable," he said, "There will be massacres and famine ahead." The most hopeful of all was the shopkeeper. Although he didn’t predict massacres and famine, he did forecast protests on the streets like those seen before the war. He said: "My expectation is that if conditions don't improve, people won't be able to endure this situation.

I think this time the protest will be bigger." None of the four expressed any faith in Iran’s . The identities of the four, all opposed to the current rulers, have been withheld for their safety (stock image) | GETTY "The country's officials only pursue their own interests," said one, "and nothing can be expected from them." He offered a short and stark message to GB News and the wider world saying: "The Islamic Republic is the killer of Iran's youth."

As they wait for the world to act again, opinion about Britain is clearly divided in a country where it’s nearly impossible to get a true picture of what’s going on abroad. One was scathing though, even claiming that: "Britain has been a supporter of the Islamic Republic, has never supported the Iranian people, and will not be a friend of the Iranian people." The shopkeeper was equally unhappy, he said: "Britain has never been with the Iranian people", adding that British policy "has always been the same."

He believes that Britain – and Europe generally – lives in fear of Iran. Recent attacks on British soil, , has stoked that fear they believe. Cities and military sites were blitzed by joint US/Israeli strikes across Iran | GETTY "Europe has always been afraid of the Islamic Republic," he said, "Because the Islamic Republic carries out assassinations, those countries fear harm will come to their citizens."

The other two we spoke to were more hopeful. On the new Prime Minister, one took hope from Burnham’s "recently taken harsh positions" toward Tehran. Another praised Burnham for "decisive action against the Islamic Republic's terrorism and sabotage." He added: "I hope Britain, which has always been a pioneer of democracy, will support the Iranian people." But he was losing hope of support from elsewhere: "Europe is currently caught up in a major war and sees itself standing against Russia.

All countries only think about their own interests, and we expect nothing from anyone." As uncertainty goes on, so too does what passes for daily life in Iran. But all four feared being forgotten. "Very rarely do they perhaps know about the situation of Iranians," said one, "Perhaps once popular protests begin again, people abroad will also show us support." As they await help from outside of Iran, patience and hope are running out. One said: "The only glimmer of hope I have, is foreign countries confronting the Islamic Republic, and also the start of popular protests inside the country."

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Read the original article on gbnews.com (opens in a new tab)
What we found (5)

GB News draws a picture of a whole nation in despair and growing hostility to its government from four anonymous people it says are all opponents of that government, and states those conclusions in its own voice. It narrates with 'evil', 'brutal' and 'despotic', and presents Iran's 'nuclear threat' and the aim of the US and Israeli strikes as established fact with no source.

  1. States one side's claim as fact

    Serious

    “with the aim of deposing the country’s despotic rulers and destroying their nuclear threat”

    Why this matters
    GB News states in its own voice what the strikes were for, and calls Iran's nuclear programme 'their nuclear threat' with no source.
    The impression it gives
    That Iran's nuclear programme is an established threat, and that the strikes were aimed at that threat and at the government.
    The context
    The article cites no one for the aim of the strikes or for the claim of a nuclear threat. It gives no IAEA finding and no Iranian account. Whether the programme is a weapons threat is a claim made by the US and Israel, not a fact the outlet can state as its own.

    How we know

    • Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “IAEA”.

    Show it in the article

    Written straight

    Cities and military sites across Iran were hit by joint US and Israeli strikes ordered by Donald Trump.

  2. Judges a whole people on a few

    Serious

    “Whatever the future, dislike of the ruling regime is growing.”

    Why this matters
    GB News states as fact, in its own voice, a trend across a whole country.
    The impression it gives
    That hostility to Iran's government is measurably rising across Iran.
    The context
    The only basis in the article is four anonymous people whom the outlet itself describes as all opposed to the government. Four existing opponents cannot show that dislike is growing.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“all opposed to the current rulers”

    Show it in the article

    “the hope of one day flooding the streets to celebrate the end of the Islamic Republic is strong”

    Why this matters
    The narration turns the hopes of a handful of chosen opponents into a national mood stated as fact.
    The impression it gives
    That Iranians broadly are confident of the government's fall and ready to celebrate it.
    The context
    The claim rests on remarks from the same four sources, selected because they oppose the government. The article has no polling or wider evidence.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“Four Iranians, risking their lives to speak out”

    Show it in the article

    “reveal nation in despair”

    Why this matters
    The headline says four interviews reveal the condition of a whole nation.
    The impression it gives
    That the article documents the mood of Iran as a country.
    The context
    The body rests on four anonymous people, all chosen as opponents of the government.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“The identities of the four, all opposed to the current rulers”

    Show it in the article

    Written straight

    Four Iranians opposed to their government told GB News that life has grown harder, and that they expect protests and hope the government will fall.

  3. States one side's claim as fact

    Minor

    “some believed to be linked to Iran and some proved to be linked to Iran”

    Why this matters
    The sentence says some attacks on British soil were 'proved' to be linked to Iran. It names no attack and gives no court finding or police statement.
    The impression it gives
    That Iran has been shown to be behind attacks in Britain.
    The context
    The article offers nothing to support 'proved'. When the outlet reported the RAF Fairford plot, police said no link to Iran had been confirmed and Iran denied involvement. Neither point appears here.

    How we know

    Show it in the article

  4. Uses a loaded word

    Minor

    “brutal regime”

    Why this matters
    The headline calls Iran's government a 'brutal regime' in the outlet's own voice.
    The impression it gives
    That the verdict is established fact rather than the outlet's own judgement.
    The context
    No source is attached. 'Regime' and 'brutal' are GB News's own words.

    Show it in the article

    “evil Islamic regime”

    Why this matters
    The narration calls the government 'evil', a moral verdict delivered as description.
    The impression it gives
    That calling the government evil is plain reporting.
    The context
    This is the outlet's own label, not a quote from any of its sources.

    Show it in the article

    “despotic rulers”

    Why this matters
    The same sentence that reports the US and Israeli strikes describes their targets as 'despotic rulers'.
    The impression it gives
    That the strikes were aimed at illegitimate tyrants, which makes the bombing read as justified.
    The context
    The label is the outlet's own and is placed inside its account of the strikes.

    Show it in the article

    “cruel and increasingly desperate leaders”

    Why this matters
    The narration claims to know the leaders' state of mind ('increasingly desperate') and labels them cruel.
    The impression it gives
    That the leadership is known to be desperate.
    The context
    Nothing in the article shows the leaders' state of mind. It is asserted in the outlet's voice.

    Show it in the article

  5. Leaves out what changes the picture

    Minor

    What is missing

    The article does not say that the US and Israeli strikes killed thousands of people, a point the outlet's earlier report states. A reader is left with 'thousands of deaths' and no one responsible for them.

    How we know

    Show where it belongs

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