Tehran Under Fire Is This the End of the Iran-Israel War?

Tehran Under Siege: Intense Attacks Precede Israel-Iran Cease-Fire

In a dramatic turn of events, Iran's capital, Tehran, endured a night of intense airstrikes just hours before a cease-fire between Israel and Iran took effect on Tuesday morning. The attacks, described by residents as the most sustained since the war began on June 13th, left the city in a state of fear and uncertainty.

A Night of Terror: Eyewitness Accounts

Numerous Tehran residents, speaking on condition of anonymity due to fear of retribution, painted a harrowing picture of the night's events.

• Flames and Smoke: Witnesses reported seeing large flames illuminating the night sky and massive plumes of smoke rising above the city.
• Evacuations: Some residents, like Mariam, a 54-year-old art gallery owner, fled their homes with their families, seeking refuge in safer locations. Mariam tearfully shared that she and her son were fleeing to her parents' apartment, fearing for their home's survival.
• Constant Explosions: Mostafa Shams, a journalist in Tehran, described the explosions around his house as "loud and constant," even audible to thousands listening on the Clubhouse social media platform.
• Power Outages: Several districts in Tehran experienced power outages, plunging residents into darkness as the attacks continued.

Amir, a 48-year-old resident of the Jordan neighborhood, shared a video capturing the intense explosions and flashes of light that lit up the night sky.

Alireza, a 27-year-old graduate student, conveyed the widespread fear, stating, "No night has been like this, the sounds are huge, we can see fire and smoke from our window in multiple locations. We don’t know if we will be alive tomorrow morning."

Roya, 60, recounted huddling with her family in the stairwell of her apartment building, a common scene as residents sought the safest possible shelter.

Cease-Fire Announcement and Relief

The cease-fire announcement, revealed by President Trump on Monday evening (early Tuesday morning in Tehran) and later confirmed by Iranian state television, brought a collective sigh of relief. Ramin, a resident of Chitgar, a western suburb, upon hearing the news, exclaimed, "Is it really over? Thank God."

Key Developments:

• The airstrikes were described as the most intense since the war began on June 13th.
• President Trump announced the cease-fire agreement.
• Residents reported widespread fear, evacuations, and power outages.

A Fragile Peace

While the cease-fire brings a temporary respite from the violence, the underlying tensions between Israel and Iran remain. The events in Tehran serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict and the urgent need for lasting peace in the region. The world watches with cautious optimism, hoping that this cease-fire marks the beginning of a de-escalation and a move towards a more stable future.

Tags: Israel, Iran, Cease-fire, Tehran, Airstrikes, War, Trump, Conflict, Middle East, News, International Relations, Geopolitics, Diplomacy, Nuclear Program, Regional Security

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/24/world/middleeast/israel-iran-war-ceasefire-tehran-strikes.html