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As Trump’s Iran deadline crept toward a decisive hour Tuesday night, the atmosphere inside Iran felt less like a ticking clock and more like a pressure cooker—hissing with tension, yet strangely still.

Across cities, from crowded streets to quiet homes, reactions ranged from disbelief to quiet resistance, as the threat of sweeping destruction loomed just hours away.

A Threat of Unprecedented масш

President Donald Trump warned that unless Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. Eastern time, U.S. forces would target critical infrastructure—including power plants, desalination facilities, oil installations, and bridges.

His rhetoric escalated sharply Tuesday morning, when he declared that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if no agreement was reached.

In a social media post, Trump added a chilling note of inevitability, saying he hoped such devastation could be avoided—“but it probably will.”

Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Uncertainty

In Tehran, residents appeared caught between alarm and resignation.

Lili, an arts worker who withheld her full name for safety reasons, dismissed the threats as erratic, saying her first thought was that Trump “has lost his mind.” Despite the looming deadline, she and her family made no plans to flee or stockpile supplies.

“We need to continue with our lives,” she said, noting that with infrastructure under threat, no place would truly be safe.

Legal Warnings and Global Implications

Legal experts have raised alarms that targeting civilian infrastructure could amount to war crimes under international law.

Meanwhile, Iran responded with its own proposals aimed at ending the conflict. Trump described these efforts as a “significant step,” yet insufficient to delay his deadline.

A Clash of Ideals

Mohsen Borhani, a professor at Tehran University, said Trump’s threats prompted him to reflect on foundational American values.

He cited figures like Thomas Jefferson and Franklin D. Roosevelt, questioning how a U.S. president could undermine principles shaped over centuries and reinforced through global institutions like the United Nations.

Borhani argued that Washington’s strategy rests on a flawed belief—that overwhelming military pressure could force Iran’s leadership to capitulate.

“Even several nuclear bombs would not achieve such an outcome,” he said.

Escalation on the Ground

As the deadline approached, the Israeli military announced strikes on eight bridges across Iran and warned civilians to avoid railways until late evening.

In response, scenes of defiance unfolded nationwide. Citizens formed human chains around infrastructure sites, waving flags and holding images of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in the early stages of the U.S.-Israeli offensive.

In the city of Kermanshah, demonstrators gathered near a power plant, holding banners declaring attacks on electricity infrastructure to be war crimes.

Videos shared by local outlets showed protesters chanting slogans against the United States and Israel near facilities like the Semnan power plant.

Shifting Loyalties Amid Conflict

For some Iranians, the escalating threats have reshaped political loyalties.

Lili, who previously supported anti-government protests, said the ongoing bombings of not just military targets but also universities and industrial sites had changed her perspective.

“So now, we are supporting Iran and whatever government is running it,” she said.

A Divided Public and Rising Fear

Others expressed growing unease.

Pari, another Tehran resident, said some who once backed U.S.-Israeli actions in hopes of political change are now reconsidering.

“There is a growing fear that, rather than helping, these measures could end up harming ordinary citizens,” she said.

Warnings of Global Fallout

Prominent businessman Pedram Soltani issued a direct appeal to Americans, warning that the consequences of Trump’s actions could reverberate far beyond Iran.

He cautioned that large-scale strikes could trigger retaliation across Gulf infrastructure, disrupting oil supplies and sending global prices soaring.

“The United States will become one of the most hated countries in the world,” he wrote, adding that such resentment could ultimately impact Americans’ own safety and daily lives.