Tensions have gripped many cities across Iran following speculation that the United States might be preparing to launch a military strike amid uncertain negotiations between the two countries.
On 28 Feb 2026 GMT+7, many cities throughout Iran were tense amid forecasts that the U.S. might initiate a military attack, causing many citizens to live in fear, suffer sleepless nights, and closely follow the situation.
Reports indicate that many young people are tracking flights and maritime vessels in real time; some worry about foreign intervention, while others hope international pressure might shift internal power balances after over 50 days of government crackdowns on anti-government protests.
Previously, U.S. President Donald Trump had encouraged protesters to continue and said that help was on the way. However, the recent shift toward diplomatic negotiations has dimmed hopes for some groups.
Meanwhile, the death toll from domestic unrest remains highly disputed. The U.S.-based human rights group HRANA reports 7,007 deaths, with thousands more cases under investigation, far exceeding Iran's official figure of 3,117, highlighting the opacity surrounding the crackdown data.
UN human rights expert Mai Sato, special rapporteur on Iran, stated that internet restrictions and mass arrests make it impossible to accurately gauge the true extent of the violence at this time.
The third round of U.S.-Iran talks in Geneva, Switzerland, concluded this week without a final agreement, showing only slight progress and plunging Iran back into a period of uncertainty.
Some analysts warn that if negotiations fail, it could lead to severe consequences. Iranian leaders have signaled a willingness to risk regional war rather than retreat, while some intelligence observers believe the government might adopt an extremely hardline stance, accepting heavy damage over unconditional surrender.
Meanwhile, some U.S. opposition experts believe any intervention might be a limited targeted strike, but others caution about the possibility of a large-scale military operation causing widespread damage.
Earlier, several countries advised their citizens to evacuate Iran as regional tensions intensified, and all flights from Istanbul, Turkey, to Tehran's airports have been canceled.
Source: BBC, Aljazeera, RT