By Eugenio Montero
Speaking from within the war zone, a young Iranian shares his story with momarandu.com. The son of a family of veterans who fought in the Iran–Iraq war, he currently lives in Kermanshah, a city near the Iraq border 525km from Tehran and 1400km from Tel Aviv. Bombs are falling there too.
Momarandu reached out to him for a first-hand account of this tragic conflict, which has held the world’s attention for over a week.
His words reflect concern, but not panic resignation without bitterness, pride without boastfulness, and above all, a calm strength. He recalls the exact moment he realized Iran was under attack.
It was 3:40 AM on June 13. He was aboard a flight bound for the UK, where his brother lives. Rumors began circulating. Soon, they were confirmed: Israel had bombed Tehran. “Later, we found out many of our military commanders were killed in the strike. A friend messaged me: ‘Did you hear the explosion?’ I felt awful. I remember some people were praying, others wanted to leave the plane and go back to their families. The sky was clear, but no planes were allowed to fly. The war had started.”
With his journey abruptly cut short, he took refuge at a friend’s house. “It was near Milad Tower. From there, we could see Iranian defenses. People were already leaving Tehran. And you could understand why staying near strategic sites was too risky. The same was happening in other major cities with military infrastructure. Two days later, I returned to Kermanshah.”
The Bombing of Kermanshah
Kermanshah, capital of the province by the same name in western Iran, was founded in 390 AD and is now an important industrial hub. Home to nearly a million peoplemostly Shia Muslims it is also the birthplace of Nobel Prize winning author Doris Lessing.
“My city has been attacked over ten times since that fateful Friday. We’ve heard explosions close by it’s terrifying. Many sites have been hit. I can’t say which ones, but so far, there have been no civilian casualties. There are no shelters here, but people are courageous. Most shops are open. Life goes on, though the tension is always present.”
He points out that Iran’s vast size means the war isn’t felt everywhere at every moment though he suspects things may feel very different in Israel.
– How do people in Iran feel about the conflict? Is the government supported?
“There are definitely people who are unhappy with how the government has handled things over the past 20 years. But I can say this: Iranians won’t welcome a foreign invader. Most of us are praying for victory and for our national pride.”
– This conflict has deep historical roots. Do younger generations still hope for peace?
“We’ve been living through hardship for years... U.S. sanctions, constant hostilities... So for many of us, a better future feels far away. But we’ve also learned to appreciate the moment, and to be grateful. I think all this pressure has made us fearless and mentally prepared for anything. People carry on with life, as if it were normal. Many of our fathers fought in the Iran–Iraq war for years. My father spent four years on the front lines. My mother lost three of her brothers in that war. That might give you an idea of the kind of people we are.”
This interview was conducted before the U.S. strike on Iran.
The identity of the young Iranian has been withheld.
*Arreglos de traducción Emmanuel Sanauria
