Struggles and Survival: How Life for Iranians Has Shifted Six Months Into the US-Israel War

Six months into the US-Israel war on Iran, life for the majority of Iran's 90 million citizens has devolved into a daily struggle as overall quality of life deteriorates. While the country's military and political establishment has adapted to these harsh circumstances without sacrificing its ideological principles, ordinary people bear the heaviest burden.

The conflict erupted on February 28 following US and Israeli strikes that resulted in the assassination of then Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei alongside key figures in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other state institutions. Despite these severe leadership losses, the government endured, placing the late leader’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, into the role of supreme leader while military commanders were restructured. Internal divisions persist between hardliners wishing to fight until the US retreats and those seeking a diplomatic path, though all factions reject any capitulation to the United States and Israel.

Iran has reportedly reached an understanding with Oman regarding a transit route in the Strait of Hormuz, where maritime traffic has plummeted due to ongoing attacks. However, the administration of US President Donald Trump opposes this arrangement, favoring the complete reopening of the strait alongside continued pressure over Iran’s nuclear program. Meanwhile, international mediators push for renewed talks amidst Washington's harshest-ever sanctions against Tehran. While a dedicated segment of government supporters gathers nightly in Tehran and other cities alongside armed forces to advocate for continued conflict, much of the population—including the cash-strapped government of President Masror Pezeshkian—grieves the loss of more than 3,500 lives, widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, and an exhausting state of limbo.

Decades of mismanagement, corruption, sanctions, and external blockades have pushed the Iranian economy to a fraction of its capacity. With the nation trapped in a prolonged cycle of 'no war, no peace,' the Statistical Center of Iran reported year-on-year inflation at 89 percent by the end of the fifth Iranian month of Mordad on August 22, with food inflation exceeding 127 percent. Bijan, a data analyst at a technology firm in downtown Tehran, noted that his salary has dropped in purchasing power from over $1,000 to less than $500 despite multiple pay bumps. Compounding these financial pressures, Iran's currency, the rial, reached a record low of 2.06 million against the US dollar in Tehran’s open market, while extensive damage to oil, gas, petrochemical, steel, and utility infrastructure threatens severe fuel and electricity shortages ahead of winter.

Socially, authorities continue to demand a unified national stance despite stark ideological contrasts. While Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written directive banning acts that undermine social cohesion, President Pezeshkian acknowledged on state television that the government faces profound financial challenges and struggles to sell oil. Concurrently, the judicial and intelligence apparatus has accelerated a crackdown on dissent, enforcing weekly executions—including individuals detained during the June 2025 war and January protests—and issuing restrictions preventing citizens from communicating with specific foreign media and individuals. Furthermore, the state has intensified the enforcement of mandatory hijab laws, leading to the closure of various cafes, ice cream shops, and online vendors for failing to comply with official Islamic norms.