Freedom on our terms' Iranians grapple with idea of regime change

Despite a substantial internet blackout, news spread quickly in Iran on Tuesday night: the US was considering joining Israel in its war on Iran.

- William Christou Deepa Parent Shah Meer Baloch

"We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. Our patience is wearing thin," the US president, Donald Trump, wrote on Truth Social that night. He added three minutes later in a second post: "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!"

When Mehnaz*, a 24-year-old student activist in east Tehran, heard the news, she did not think of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Instead, she thought of her fellow students who were detained, shot and executed by Iranian security forces during the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests.

"After Mahsa [Amini]'s death, we tried to stand up. Teenagers were shot point blank, our compatriots were hanged. We could never get rid of the Islamic Republic on our own. Now, someone from outside is helping us," Mehnaz told the Guardian via text yesterday after a sleepless night of Israeli bombing.

The prospect of imminent US involvement in an Israeli bombing campaign, which is suggested to be in pursuit of regime change, has laid bare deep divides in Iran's population, even among the opposition. Many are deeply suspicious of US intentions in Iran. Others do not care who is the one to topple the government.