Airstrikes replace fireworks as Iran greets Eid with defiance
Despite ongoing attacks and economic strain, daily life continues, with muted traditions and a deep-rooted resilience guiding the nation into the holiday
By Akhtar Pathan
TEHRAN (MNTV) — The streets of Tehran still carry the familiar rhythms of life in the final days of Ramadan, though quieter now, subdued beneath a sky that no longer guarantees calm.
Shops remain open, their shelves stocked, but the crowds are thinner, movements more deliberate. Many families have already completed what they describe as modest Eid shopping, mindful of uncertainty and the weight of the moment.
There is little outward panic. Instead, a somber but unmistakably defiant mood hangs in the air — one that residents say has come to define life as the country approaches Eid al-Fitr under continued bombardment.
For many Iranians, this composure is neither accidental nor new. It is rooted in a religious and historical consciousness that shapes how hardship is understood and endured. Central to that consciousness is the remembrance of the tragedy of Karbala, a defining event in Shia Islam marked by loss, sacrifice and martyrdom.
That memory, deeply woven into everyday faith, means that grief is not unfamiliar terrain. Even moments of celebration carry undertones of mourning. Eid, in this context, is never entirely detached from reflection on suffering — a duality that residents say has prepared them, psychologically and spiritually, to confront crisis.
This remembrance makes people resilient. It teaches them to endure.
That resilience has been tested before. During the 1980–1988 war with Iraq, Iran suffered devastating losses. Historical estimates suggest roughly 188,000 Iranian soldiers were killed, with total military casualties exceeding 1.1 million when the wounded are included.
A national survey documented more than 183,000 deaths and over 550,000 injuries, while medical databanks recorded more than 1.4 million war-related injuries.
Behind those figures were overwhelmingly young men. One epidemiological review placed the average age of those killed at just 23, reflecting a generation lost in its youth. Civilian areas were also repeatedly struck, particularly in cities such as Tehran and Dezful, where missile attacks and air raids brought the front lines into homes, schools and streets.
Those memories remain vivid for many, shaping how the present is perceived.
This year’s Eid carries echoes of that earlier period — but with a sense that the burden of grief is growing more rapidly as strikes continue following the escalation of hostilities on Feb. 28.
Yet grief, rather than paralyzing, is often reframed. Many describe it as something worn openly — not as a weight, but as a symbol of endurance and resistance.
That sentiment appears across different layers of society, forming what some see as a shared national characteristic: a readiness to withstand pressure and continue daily life despite it.
Resilience and defiance fill air at ground-zero
On the eve of Eid, Tehran-based journalist Mohammad John Hussain said the atmosphere in the capital reflects that pattern.
“Iranians traditionally celebrate Eid in a modest way,” said Hussain, who works with Press TV. “There is no extravagance, no lavish parties or excessive shopping like in some neighboring countries. People keep it simple.”
That simplicity, he said, has become even more pronounced this year.
“People still buy new clothes, but they keep it modest. And they focus more on charity — on giving zakat al-Fitr to those in need or donating through trusted organizations,” he said. “The idea is to make Eid meaningful for the less fortunate.”
Despite the ongoing conflict, Hussain said there are few signs of panic in daily life.
“There is no panic buying. You don’t see long queues at stores or fuel stations. Prices have not suddenly surged the way they often do in countries at war,” he said. “In fact, you can see shops and bakeries offering discounts during Ramadan and the war.”
He acknowledged that for observers outside the country, such accounts may be difficult to reconcile with reports of sustained bombardment.
“It is hard for the outside world to believe life can continue under such conditions,” he said. “But people are not panicked. They go about their lives. Shops are open, supplies are available. There are no major shortages, at least not so far.”
What follows each airstrike, he said, has become a familiar cycle.
“People respond, they take care of what is necessary, they mourn those who are lost, and then they return to their routines,” he said. “It is almost mechanical — shaped by decades of repeated crisis.”
Families focus on calculating, distributing zakat al-Fitr
As Eid approaches, that rhythm continues, though with noticeable shifts in how preparations are carried out.
In many households, attention has turned toward calculating and distributing zakat al-Fitr, a charitable obligation tied to the end of Ramadan. Families work through tight budgets to ensure contributions reach poorer households ahead of Eid prayers.
At the same time, homes are being cleaned and kitchens prepared for simple meals and sweets. Parents, even under financial strain, try to provide children with at least one new or freshly pressed outfit — a small but meaningful gesture of normalcy.
Public preparations reflect similar restraint. Mosques and prayer grounds are organizing Eid prayer schedules and charity collections, but the broader atmosphere is shaped by economic pressures and the realities of conflict.
Some families say they are limiting travel, avoiding longer journeys due to security concerns. Others have reduced spending on nonessential items, prioritizing food, medicine and basic needs over traditional festive purchases.
Social customs associated with Eid — visiting relatives, giving small cash gifts, and paying respects at cemeteries — are expected to continue, but in a quieter, more subdued form. Gatherings are likely to focus less on celebration and more on supporting those affected by financial hardship or personal loss.
Oscillation between normalcy and alertness
The broader regional situation adds another layer of unease. Ongoing tensions linked to Iran’s retaliatory strikes amid U.S.-Israeli attacks have heightened uncertainty, influencing how families approach the holiday.
Ramadan itself has unfolded under these conditions.
Traditionally a time of communal prayers, nightly gatherings and shared meals, the month has been marked this year by interruptions and unpredictability. In Tehran, residents describe a pattern in which moments of calm are broken by sudden explosions, sometimes coinciding with iftar, the meal that breaks the daily fast.
The effect, they say, is a constant oscillation between normalcy and alertness.
In southern Iran, the impact has been more acute. A missile strike on a school in the city of Minab in late February, which killed dozens of children, remains a defining moment for many families. As Eid approaches — a holiday often centered on children — that loss continues to shape public sentiment.
Instead of anticipation, conversations are often dominated by grief and anxiety.
Even so, public expressions of faith persist.
Mosques remain open where possible, though attendance varies depending on security conditions. In some neighborhoods, smaller gatherings in homes have replaced larger communal events. Religious ceremonies continue, sometimes alongside state-backed rallies emphasizing unity and resilience.
In other instances, people have taken part in spontaneous celebrations tied to longstanding traditions, reflecting a complex mix of defiance and continuity.
Memory, faith and habit keep nation moving
As the end of Ramadan nears and the sighting of the crescent moon approaches, many across Iran say their prayers are focused less on celebration and more on survival and stability.
For some, the hope is simple: that the next Eid will arrive under quieter skies.
Until then, life continues in measured steps — shops opening each morning, families preparing what they can, and a nation drawing on memory, faith and habit to navigate a holiday unlike most others.
In Tehran, the sounds that accompany the approach of Eid are no longer just those of bustling markets or festive gatherings. They include, increasingly, the distant echoes of airstrikes — a stark reminder of the moment.
Yet amid that reality, the rituals endure, reshaped but not abandoned.
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