Donald Trump posted a profanity‑laden message on a social‑media platform on Sunday, announcing a grim timetable: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” The message set a 20:00 ET (01:00 BST) deadline for Wednesday, a deadline that Iranian authorities have openly ridiculed.

An aide to the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran dismissed Donald Trump’s statement as “insults and nonsense” born of “sheer desperation and anger.” The aide’s comment reflects a broader pattern of official mockery that has emerged since the United States president made the threat public.

Voices from the streets of Tehran and Karaj

The Global Reporting Initiative for Europe (GREE) has managed to speak with several Iranians who oppose the current regime, despite a nationwide internet blackout that began more than five weeks ago. The blackout, imposed by the authorities, has forced citizens to rely on limited satellite connections and expensive data‑selling services in order to stay informed.

All participants’ names have been altered to protect personal safety. Kasra, a man in his twenties residing in Tehran, describes a feeling of sinking deeper into a swamp. Kasra says, “It feels like we’re sinking deeper into a swamp. What can we do as ordinary people? We can’t do anything. We can’t stop Donald Trump. I keep thinking about a scenario where, in a month, I’m sitting with my family with no water, no electricity, nothing. And someone blows out the candle and we go to sleep.”

While Iranian state television continues to broadcast images of well‑stocked grocery stores, GREE has heard reports that many households are already stockpiling essential supplies. Mina, another young adult from Tehran, explains, “My mum is filling every bottle she can find in the house with water.” Mina adds, “I have no idea what we’re going to do now. I think more and more Iranians have realised that Donald Trump doesn’t care about them at all. I hate Donald Trump from the bottom of my heart, and hate those who support him too.”

In January, when anti‑establishment protests swept the country, Donald Trump declared that “help is on its way” to the demonstrators. However, Donald Trump did not intervene when Iranian security forces launched an unprecedented crackdown that resulted in at least 6,508 deaths and 53,000 arrests, according to the United States‑based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana).

Some interviewees initially viewed potential U.S.–Israeli strikes as the promised help. Over time, most have concluded that attacks on energy infrastructure cross a red line that cannot be justified, regardless of any political motive.

Reactions to past strikes and the looming threat

Arman, a man in his twenties from Karaj, west of Tehran, expresses gratitude for previous attacks aimed at military targets, but draws a clear distinction when it comes to civilian energy sites. Arman says, “I’ve thanked Israel and the United States for almost all of what they’ve hit so far.” Iranian media reported that thirteen people died and nearly one hundred were injured when a bridge under construction in Karaj was bombed on a Thursday.

Arman continues, “They must have had good reasons for the sites they have hit. But I swear, hitting a power station just paralyses the country. It just plays into the Islamic Republic’s hands. I live about a kilometre away from the biggest power station in Karaj, and if they hit it, it’ll be nothing but misery for me.”

Radin, another young adult from Tehran, voices an unflinching stance toward any escalation that could topple the regime. Radin declares, “About them hitting energy infrastructure, using an atomic bomb, or levelling Iran. My honest reaction is that I’m OK with all of these. Or anything else they might have in mind. If attacking targets in the country brings down the Islamic Republic, I’m fine with that. Because if the Islamic Republic survives this war, it will stay forever.”

Many citizens interviewed by GREE are also deeply concerned about the broader economic fallout that could follow a sustained campaign against critical infrastructure. Bahman, a man in his twenties living in Tehran, predicts retaliation: “I think Donald Trump is scared of what Iran is going to do. I’m sure that Iran will hit everywhere in the region in retaliation.”

Bahman adds, “When it comes to me, I don’t have a routine anymore, and I can’t even go to work with the situation because I’m a building superintendent engineer and no‑one is building anything right now. Some smaller companies have started to lay off their employees already.”

Jamshid, a restaurateur in his thirties operating a restaurant in Tehran, reports that the business environment has been fundamentally altered by the conflict. Jamshid says, “My business is not the same as before the war. I’m not optimistic about the situation. I estimate that I can hold this up for a month, maybe two, at most. The rent is breaking my back. It’s 200 million tomans a month (approximately $1,270; £960; €1,100).” The rent figure is stark when compared with the average monthly salary in Iran, which is estimated to fall between $200 and $300.

Internet blackout, satellite workarounds, and personal strain

Most of the individuals spoken to by GREE continue to pay steep prices for any form of internet access, largely because the official network remains largely shut down. The main avenue for connectivity has become peer‑to‑peer sharing of satellite internet, most notably through Starlink terminals that operate via low‑Earth‑orbit satellites.

Possession or use of a Starlink terminal in Iran carries a legal penalty of up to two years in prison, and authorities have been actively searching for the dishes in an effort to curb unauthorized connections. Despite the risk, people still turn to the Telegram messaging app to purchase data, where a gigabyte of traffic sells for about $6.

Marjan, a woman in her twenties from Tehran, expresses the mental toll of living under constant threat while struggling to stay online. Marjan says, “I feel like I’m losing my mind. I didn’t even renew my internet package that I’m paying so much for.” Marjan continues, “What’s the point if Donald Trump hits energy infrastructure? I’m distressed. My parents too… they argue over the smallest things now. I keep telling myself I’m fine, but I’ve had three mental breakdowns already today.”

The combination of looming physical danger, economic hardship, and restricted communication channels has created an atmosphere of pervasive anxiety. The quotes from Kasra, Mina, Arman, Radin, Bahman, Jamshid, and Marjan illustrate a shared sense of helplessness, anger toward the United States president, and a desperate search for any semblance of stability.