Following a brutal crackdown in January that resulted in thousands of deaths among protesters in Iran, many citizens, like Mandana, have lost faith in possible reforms from within the regime. Convinced that the Islamic Republic's leadership must be removed, the hope for change surged when the United States and Israel targeted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's complex on February 28, killing him and several family members. For many, this moment felt like the long-desired change was finally on the horizon.

However, since the airstrikes, the reality has been starkly different. The bombings did not only focus on military installations and key regime figures; they indiscriminately struck civilian infrastructure, leading to widespread suffering among the populace. Observations on the ground have revealed a dire humanitarian situation, compounded by the toxic smoke engulfing Tehran over the weekend as Israel bombed fuel depots around the city.

The escalating violence and the devastating impact on ordinary citizens have obliterated any remaining hopes for immediate change. The situation highlights the complexities of regime change in Iran, where external military actions intended to destabilize the government have instead led to greater hardships for the Iranian people, raising questions about the long-term implications for both domestic and foreign policy in the region.