Families and acquaintances of British-Iranians express concern over their inability to communicate with loved ones in Iran, who are worried about potential retribution by the Iranian government.
In the heart of chaos, Iran finds itself shrouded in an internet blackout that's leaving communication fragile but not broken. Amidst this digital disconnection, we catch up with British-Iranians Amir Javadzadeh and Attieh Fard, who've been battling to get hold of their friends and family in Iran. Each passing hour chips away at their hopes, and their desperate attempts to reach loved ones are becoming increasingly futile.
Amir finally manages to get through to a friend in Mashhad, whom we'll refer to as "Ali" to protect his identity. Ali paints an ominous picture, describing people scrambling for essentials like bread and fuel in the city. He sends a video of a colossal fuel queue snaking through the streets, highlighting the desperate situation.
"My wife's in the hospital, and I need to visit her constantly, but I can’t find any fuel or medicine," says Ali, reflecting the mounting difficulties faced by many Iranians. "It's a tough time for us, and we can't even cook because we're out of gas."
Ali also mentions that people fleeing Tehran amid the chaos are piling into Mashhad. "I'm furious... we're actually, you know, we're in the middle of war between our government and the Israelis," he adds, revealing the fear and anger cultivated by the ongoing situation.[1][2]
Iranians fear talking to Western media for fear of being punished by the regime. However, some have anonymously shared their fears and videos, like the one below showing the bombings in Tehran.
Attieh Fard shares a message exchange with a relative: "Everyone's worried and stressed...They (the Israelis) won't stop until they hit the target."[1][2]
One anti-regime activist, whom we'll call "Sam" for his safety, speaks to us from Tehran. Under the shadow of potential U.S. bombing, Sam labels the ongoing conflict a "very historical moment in our Iranian history." When asked about his fear of U.S. intervention, he says, "Not at all because the Americans, we believe, are not going to fight with the people, they are fighting with the Islamic Republic. They're against the ideology of the Islamic republic. So that's why we're not afraid.
"The view from inside Iran is that if a U.S. attack happens, I think it will result in the fall of the Islamic Republic," Sam continues. "I believe these are the tools, and the people inside are ready to take over the situation once the regime is weakened."[1][2]
[1] Ahmad, F. (2025, June 19). Iran imposes nationwide internet shutdown amidst cyberattacks and growing unrest. TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/19/iran-nationwide-internet-shutdown/
[2] Human Rights Watch. (2025, June 20). Iran: Government Must Restore Internet Access, End Unrest Crackdown. Press Release. https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/06/20/iran-government-must-restore-internet-access-end-unrest-crackdown
The ongoing digital disconnection in Iran due to the internet blackout is not affecting the general news coverage of the war-and-conflicts that intensify daily, as the frustrated attempts of British-Iranians Amir Javadzadeh and Attieh Fard to contact their loved ones unveil the harsh realities of their struggle for survival amidst critical scarcity of essentials and the escalating conflict with the Israeli government. In the midst of the chaos, an anti-regime activist from Tehran, known as 'Sam', emphasizes the historical significance of the current moment, portraying a perspective of hope and readiness for change within Iran.
