Anti-regime Iranians turn anger toward Trump amid Iran war

Published: 14 March 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

For years, many Iranians who opposed their country’s hardline leadership believed that international pressure might help bring about change. After repeated waves of protests, arrests, and deadly crackdowns, some activists and ordinary citizens quietly hoped that outside intervention might weaken the authorities they blame for decades of repression.

But as the war between Iran and a US-Israeli coalition intensifies, a noticeable shift in mood is emerging among parts of the anti-government movement. Anger once directed almost entirely at Tehran’s rulers is increasingly being aimed at foreign powers as well, particularly after airstrikes that have damaged civilian infrastructure and killed hundreds across the country.

“I believed what they said about rescuing us,” said Amir, a student at the University of Tehran who has participated in anti-government demonstrations in the past. “Now it feels like they are lying too, just like the regime has been lying to us for years. You are all worse than each other.”

For many Iranians who oppose the government, the conflict initially raised hopes that the ruling system might finally collapse. On the first day of the war, an airstrike killed the country’s most powerful political figure, the supreme leader Ali Khamenei, sending shockwaves through Iranian society. Some activists believed the loss of the long-time leader might accelerate political change after decades of clerical rule.

However, the regime quickly moved to consolidate power. Within days, Khamenei’s son was appointed to replace him, and security forces tightened their grip across the country. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes intensified, expanding far beyond military targets into urban areas and infrastructure.

Amir described a sense of emotional confusion after the initial shock of Khamenei’s death. “It’s strange. We spent years dreaming of the day he would be gone, but now that it has happened, everything feels chaotic. We never got to see him face justice. It happened so suddenly.”

For him, the turning point came when airstrikes hit the Shahran oil depot in Tehran, sending thick black smoke across the capital. After rain fell later that day, residents reported a sticky layer of oily residue covering trees, buildings and cars across nearby districts.

“That’s when I started thinking maybe they never had a real plan,” Amir said. “If the goal is to weaken the regime, why destroy infrastructure ordinary people depend on? How will we rebuild the country if everything is turned into ruins?”

Others share similar concerns. A student in Karaj, a city west of Tehran that has experienced heavy bombardment, said many people initially expected foreign attacks to focus on military institutions such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Basij militia.

“I wanted the regime gone,” the student said. “I even hoped that foreign pressure might help us. But now I don’t understand why our infrastructure is being targeted.”

Across the country, reports of damage to historic landmarks have also fuelled anger and anxiety. Among the sites affected during the fighting were Tehran’s Golestan Palace, a historic complex with roots dating back to the 14th century, and the Chehel Sotoon Palace, a 17th-century Safavid-era palace in the city of Isfahan.

For many Iranians, such places are not merely tourist attractions but symbols of national identity and cultural continuity stretching back centuries. The possibility that parts of this heritage might be permanently damaged has deepened the sense of loss.

“How will they rebuild something like that?” asked another student in Tehran. “These are priceless pieces of history. And what about the people who are dying? Are we supposed to believe the world doesn’t care about that either?”

Iran’s political landscape has long been shaped by cycles of protest and repression. The Islamic Republic was established after the 1979 revolution that toppled the monarchy, replacing it with a system dominated by clerical authority. Since then, dissent has repeatedly erupted despite tight media controls and harsh punishment for critics.

One of the largest protest movements emerged in 2009 during the so-called Green Movement, when millions demonstrated against disputed election results. The uprising was crushed by security forces in a violent crackdown.

More recently, the 2022 protests known as the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement began after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody following her arrest over alleged violations of Iran’s strict dress code for women. Demonstrations spread nationwide and were again met with force.

Economic hardship has also fuelled unrest. In late December last year, protests began with strikes in Tehran’s bazaars over the collapsing value of the national currency before expanding into broader anti-government rallies. Security forces responded with one of the deadliest crackdowns in years.

Despite the devastation of the current conflict, some activists still believe it might eventually lead to political change. An Iranian doctor who treated injured protesters during the latest demonstrations said he fears the war ending without meaningful reform.

“What worries us most is if the fighting stops now and the same people remain in power,” he said. “Then they will be stronger than ever after crushing both the protests and the war.”

Yet others say the human cost of the conflict is already reshaping attitudes. Reports of civilian casualties, including families and newborn children killed in strikes, have led some activists to question whether foreign military intervention can ever deliver the freedom they hoped for.

A protest organiser in Tehran described hearing accounts from residents across the capital after several waves of airstrikes struck multiple neighbourhoods in quick succession.

“For the first time, people here are talking about something that feels like carpet bombing,” the activist said. “Entire districts were hit one after another.”

For many citizens who once looked abroad for support, the feeling now is one of abandonment. Some say that instead of one government responsible for the suffering of Iranians, they now see three.

“We thought the world might stand with us,” the protester said quietly. “But right now it feels like everyone has turned their backs.”