Iranians Face Anxious Wait as Threat of Attack Looms

Many Iranians living in the country began the week on Saturday with anxiety and dread, closely following reports that the United States and Israel have drawn up plans for another wave of attacks on Iran in the coming days or weeks. Parents agonized over whether to send their children to school or keep them close at home. Businessmen canceled work trips to avoid getting stranded if airports closed and roads became too risky. Residents in Tehran flocked to gas stations to fill up their tanks, withdrew cash from banks and stocked up on basic food items.

Some social media influencers warned their followers to keep a low profile in the coming days, and avoid unnecessary travel. Some people said that planning for war had become a new norm and they were feeling numb, as Iran has gone through two intense periods of fighting since June 2025. “I just told my wife not to wake up our son in the morning, and keep him home, we can decide day by day how to proceed,” said Majid, a 42-year-old businessman in Tehran, in a telephone interview.

He said his wife, who works at a ministry that could become a target, planned to call in sick. Majid, like all Iranians interviewed, asked that their last name not be published because of fear of retribution. President Trump has said he was considering an attack on Iran after the U.S. midterm elections if a diplomatic deal was not reached, insisting that Iran could not have a nuclear program. American officials said last week that the United States and Israel have devised specific plans for renewed strikes .

Mr. Trump has swayed from threatening to annihilate the country to promising to rehabilitate its economy if they reach a deal. U.S. officials have said that the president could still veto the plans, as he has done in the past. We are having trouble retrieving the article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.

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