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The streets of Tehran tell a story of chaos: suitable suitcases on the sidewalks, a single mother holding her young son with one hand while balancing a blanket and a pillow in the other, heading towards a metro station to spend another night underground. Without shelters, without alerts or public evacuation plans, young Iranians turn to the only safe space that remains as Israel attacks Iran: Internet and cat applications like Discord and WhatsApp.
“We do not know where to go,” explains Momo, a 24 -year -old computer engineering student in Tehran.
“We never Know if the Building Next Door Houses The IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) or the Minister of Intelligence. I Don’t Know if my upstirs neighbour is a Regular Person or a Regime Official. The Facility Near Me Might Be Part of A Secret Military Program,” He Said, Attacks on Residential Buildings, Ostensibly to Target Individuals Associated With Iran’s Military Or With Its nuclear program.
Despite everything, Momo chose to stay in Tehran – not only for his two -year rescue cat, but out of principle. “Where would I even go?” My house is here. My life is there. We will not give in to a repressive regime or an Israeli assault. Many of us stay. We don’t know how long it will last, but I prefer my house to become my grave to live on the go. ”
No shelter but internet
With conventional shelters out of reach and communication networks under heavy or fully blocked surveillance, the Iranian generation Z – that born between the mid -1990s and the mid -2010s – are preparing new shelters in the digital world. The forums have become lifestyles, serving as makeshift shelters, therapy rooms and organizational centers.
Momo has been a discord user for seven years. “This is the only place where I can breathe,” explains Momo. “I used Discord just for vocal cats by playing with friends. Now it’s like at home. We are often in contact with people more than our families. In the middle of the attacks, we watched films and television series together. Sometimes we fall asleep even online. “
This generation of Iranians has become major in the shadow of sanctions, political disorders and censorship. Many were also key players in the 2022 anti -government demonstrations triggered by the Death of Mahsa Amini In police custody after being arrested for having worn an “inappropriate hijab” – a movement known worldwide by the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom”. Online platforms then played a central role, and they continue to serve as vital tools today.
According to the Iranian daily Shargh, nearly 14 million Iranians – around 15% of the population – are players from the Z generation and frequent discord. Despite the official restrictions, they remain digitally connected, using VPNs and encrypted applications to stay in touch.
“When the attacks started, we were in the middle of a match,” said Samin, 23, from northern Iran. “It was surreal – not knowing if the explosions came from inside the game or real life. These games are full of shots and bombs, creating this bitter irony: I could not say if I played Call of Duty or to live it. Unfortunately, sounds were not play – it was real bombardments.”
Discord was blocked in Iran in April 2024, some suspecting that the government closed it in recognition of its use as a platform to organize demonstrations, although Iran’s judicial power has officially cited concerns about indecent content. But the ban did not prevent generation Z from finding its way to the application.
“Sometimes we go to great efforts just to find a working VPN, just to connect to Discord and join our channels. If someone does not connect, we call them. If his voice cuts in the middle of the call, our hearts are the race – we fear that they could have been killed in a bombardment, “says Samin. “We are more than ever online, constantly going to others. We have shared a lot – birthdays, the sound of the missiles above, the loss of dear beings. We share our fears and our daily difficulties in this space. It is a painful atmosphere, but there is also hope, solidarity and care. ”
Pregnancy, panic and perseverance
Meanwhile, a WhatsApp group initially created for prenatal yoga in Tehran has become an unexpected resilience center. Its members – pregnant women who have not been able to flee the capital – now share breathing techniques, emergency advice and voice messages during periods of breakdown.
Amenneh and his friend Zohreh, doctoral holder and recipient of the United States green card, awaited that the visas of their parents have been approved by the United States for months. While the two expected babies, they made different decisions: Zohreh returned to Iran to have family support for childbirth, while Ameneh stayed in San Francisco to give birth – but safely – in the United States.
Now, four days in the Israeli bombing of Iran, the two women are devastated – but still connected via a group cat on the encrypted messaging application called “yoga for pregnancy”.
“We give each other advice on personal care and breathing to manage panic attacks and do online yoga. We turn on candles and send vocal notes when things come back, ”explains Zohreh, who is eight months pregnant in Tehran.
“The sound of an explosion awakened me. A friend guided me to focus on breathing and heart rate to calm my contractions. Another time, when my baby did not move for hours, they told me to play music, make a massage and try yoga again.”
The threat of American president Donald Trump that Tehran is “evacuated” sent panic waves through Tehran. Zohreh and many other pregnant women found themselves unable to leave the city because of their physical condition and their limited access to medical care. “We had planned to leave Tehran,” she said, “but after seeing traffic and the possibility of going early in work, I decided to stay so I would have access to a hospital.”
As the bombs fall and uncertainty deepens, the challenge of the Iranians lives in digital spaces – calm, firm and deeply human. Even when the sky offers no warning and the regime offers no refuge, they always find themselves and refuse to face the dark alone.
Note from the publisher: Due to the sensitive nature of this story, the names have been modified to protect people involved.
This story was published in collaboration with EGAB.
