War in Iran: On site, they are a thousand times more afraid of the regime than of the bombings.

“I am 24/7 on the news, and I feel a mixture of sadness, trauma, and at the same time, a little bit of hope,” says Sina, an Iranian living in the Paris region. From the protests against the cost of living in Iran at the end of December, to the start of the war by Israel and the United States on February 28 and finally the ceasefire, the Iranian diaspora in France is on edge. Suspended by the news. And in great anxiety.

“I have 100% of my family there, and I have a large family. One must imagine that we have no news from them,” says Sina, who indicates that in his circle of Iranian friends, “many are depressed, taking medication, seeing psychologists.” He himself was on sick leave for two weeks, unable to work. “It is very stressful because of the uncertainty,” says Bernard, born in France, who has fewer family members there, and mentions “ups and downs”: “I am not impacted in my daily life but my thoughts are there, they are my roots… When we hear that schools or historical sites are hit, it hurts.”

Fact Check:

• Reports claim that there have been 35,000 deaths in recent events according to estimates from senior officials from the Iranian Ministry of Health interviewed by Time magazine.

Context:

• The Iranian diaspora in France is facing immense anxiety and stress due to the events unfolding in Iran, including protests, war, and a prolonged internet blackout imposed by the authorities.