Iranians Fear War Amid Media Blackout — SkimNews
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- Iranian civilians report constant fear of war, with parents in Tehran describing anxiety over loud noises and children returning to school despite emergency preparedness messages from private institutions
- Iran's Education Ministry, through spokesperson Ali Farhadi, dismissed rumors about school closures, asserting that decisions would be made in coordination with security authorities if threats escalate
- Iranian state media broadcast nuclear attack preparedness advice on November 2, including instructions to stay in shelters for 24 hours, fueling public fears of a U.S. strike on the 'Pickaxe Mountain' bunker near Natanz
- U.S. military was reportedly making final preparations for renewed large-scale strikes on Iran as of November 5, according to Axios, following the U.S. midterm elections and before a new Congress takes power
- Qatari mediators are attempting to secure agreement on a draft peace deal between the U.S. and Iran, though negotiations remain closed and Iranian journalists report being excluded from substantive details
- Iranian journalist Hadi Mohammadi noted on X that domestic media are entirely uninformed about ongoing peace talks, relying instead on international outlets like Axios, Al Arabiya, and Al Jazeera for updates
Why it matters: With Trump having two months before a new Congress limits his military authority, the U.S. may escalate strikes to offset political losses, while Iranians face rising fear without reliable information—putting civilians in the crosshairs of both conflict and disinformation. The lack of media access undermines public preparedness and accountability.
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