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US delays military action amid reported progress in Iran negotiations
President Donald Trump announced a five-day pause in planned attacks on Iranian power plants on Monday, just hours before an ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was set to expire. The decision followed claims of "major" diplomatic progress between Washington and Tehran to end more than three weeks of escalating air strikes and retaliatory attacks.
Iranian officials deny talks, public reactions split
Top Iranian figures, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, dismissed reports of negotiations as "fake news." However, Trump later stated the U.S. was engaging with "the right people" in Iran. The mixed signals deepened confusion among Iranians, many of whom remain cut off from global communications due to a government-imposed internet blackout.
While state media showcases nightly rallies of regime loyalists-echoing official skepticism about U.S. talks-opposition voices reveal sharp divisions. Some citizens, exhausted by war and economic strain, cautiously welcome a ceasefire, while others fear it could entrench the current leadership.
Voices from Tehran: War weariness and distrust of negotiations
Kiana, a 20-year-old resident of Tehran, expressed ambivalence about a potential deal. "If the war ends, the explosions stop, and life might stabilize," she said. "But the regime will still control us-and I think they'll become even more violent." Her concerns stem from the government's brutal crackdown on protests in December and January, which killed over 7,000 people, including 226 children, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
Armin, another young Tehran resident, rejected negotiations outright. "Any deal legitimizes the Islamic Republic globally and strengthens their oppression," he argued. "But this war isn't solving anything either. The West should have supported internal resistance instead."
Hardliners advocate for continued conflict
Parsa, a 30-year-old in Karaj, near Tehran, opposed ceasefire talks, arguing the regime must be further weakened. "They're vulnerable now. If they survive, they'll massacre more people," he said. Meanwhile, Sadaf, a woman who fled Tehran for northern Mazandaran province, demanded the leadership's removal. "I don't want negotiations-I want them gone. But I'm also afraid of losing electricity and water."
Government warnings suppress dissent
Since hostilities began on February 28, Iranian authorities have warned citizens against protesting, framing dissent as collaboration with foreign enemies. Police Chief Brig. Gen. Ahmadreza Radan threatened to treat demonstrators as "enemies," reinforcing fears of violent reprisals.
Despite Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claims of fostering regime change, there are no signs of mass uprisings. Many Iranians, like Mahtab, a 20-year-old in Tehran, feel trapped. "We're blamed for everything, yet we have no control," she said. "World powers decide our fate, and we're just left to cope."
