The American-Israeli strikes continued on March 3, 2026, for the fourth day in a row, on Tehran and other areas in Iran, while the Iranian bombing with missiles and drones targeted Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, and Israel. Our observers in Tehran recount the details of life under bombing, where fear and hope for change mix.

Published on: 03/03/2026 - 18:37

On Tuesday, March 3, new explosions rocked east and southeast of Tehran, while Iranian media reported Israeli and American strikes on the headquarters of the Assembly of Experts charged with electing the Supreme Leader.

The Israeli army issued orders to Iranian civilians to leave places near an industrial zone in Tehran and an airport near the capital, warning that it would carry out operations in the coming hours.

The United States also announced on Sunday, March 1, the destruction of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard headquarters in Tehran. For its part, Iranian media reported that a police station in Tehran and other areas were targeted, confirming casualties. It also indicated that Gandhi Hospital, located in northern Tehran, was targeted in a raid on the same day.

The Israeli army confirmed that it had dealt a “severe blow” to Iranian command and control centers, including “headquarters belonging to the Revolutionary Guard, intelligence headquarters, others belonging to the Revolutionary Guard Air Force, and internal security headquarters.”

The Observers editorial team was able to communicate with some residents, most of whom are experiencing mixed feelings, as they feel relieved after the death of the Supreme Leader, but at the same time they are worried and afraid of an uncertain future.

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Dariush (pseudonym), 45 years old, lives in the capital, Tehran.

When the war started, I was at my workplace. Some people felt a kind of relief. It was different from the 12-day war (Editor’s note: The war between Israel and Iran, June 13 and 24, 2025). Of course, fear was also present, especially when we heard the sound of missiles near our homes.

“The whole neighborhood exploded with joy.”

Regarding the news of the attack on the headquarters of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, he says:

When the attack on Khamenei's headquarters was announced, no one believed it until Iran International confirmed the news. Suddenly, the whole neighborhood exploded with joy. We could hear sounds of joy from the windows.

Dariush sadly points out the targeting of civilian infrastructure and the civilian casualties:

I read that two hospitals were hit, perhaps because the police headquarters was nearby. This is sad, there is no justification for attacking schools or hospitals. When I saw pictures of the bazaars or the damaged Golestan Palace in Tehran, I felt worried. If attacks continue and affect historic buildings and people's livelihoods, people's support for these operations will decrease.

The spread of the economic crisis increases daily suffering, Dariush adds:

Prices have become insane for six months, and this is one of the reasons for the protests (Editor’s note: Massive protests against the regime broke out on December 28, 2025, resulting in the arrest of more than 10,600 demonstrators, and the injury of about 330,000 people). Before the war, most people stored dry and canned food, especially water. On the same day the war broke out, there was no bread or preserves left in the stores; everything was bought up in haste.

Dariush adds that despite everything, many people did not leave the city:

I think people did not leave Tehran because they trust that the strikes are accurate and will not hit their homes, as happened in the 12-day war. The other reason is that they are waiting for all of this to end, and if necessary, they will take to the streets to bring about change.

“I am ready to die so that this regime does not remain in power.”

Simin (pseudonym), 48 years old, also lives in the capital, Tehran:

I hope to live to see better days, but I am prepared to die so that this regime does not remain in power. I believe this is a golden opportunity to cleanse Iran of everyone who contributed to this regime. The regime always uses the obsession with separatist rebellion as an excuse to silence people. I know the Kurds, Turks and Baluchis, because they have always suffered injustice. If they had been given equal opportunities, there would have been no talk of separation. I have hope that this year we will celebrate Nowruz as true Iranians. Since the massacre committed by the regime against civilians during the recent protests, I have been crying every day and have lost all hope. We realized that even with millions of people on the streets, we couldn't change anything. That's why everyone is now ready for war, and we have enough supplies for at least two weeks in our homes.

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