TEHRAN — The United States and Israel launched their first airstrikes on Tehran on Feb. 28, 2026, marking the beginning of a war against Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump called on Iranians to overthrow their leaders at the start of the conflict.

The war began after months of internal turmoil in Iran. In late 2025, the collapse of the Iranian currency triggered widespread protests. By January 2026, hundreds of thousands of Iranians participated in the largest demonstrations against the theocratic government in decades. Security forces opened fire on protesters that month, killing thousands and detaining tens of thousands. Iran has been under an internet blackout since January 2026, with arrests related to the protests continuing since the initial crackdowns.

Many Iranians have fled to northern Iran, which has remained relatively unscathed by the war. The city of Rasht has received large numbers of people fleeing Tehran and other areas, straining local resources. At a pediatric hospital in Rasht, the number of patients has nearly doubled since the war began, a doctor said. Medicines at the hospital are running low, and patients are being asked to purchase basic supplies such as antibiotics and IV fluids from the market, the doctor said.

The internet blackout has prevented the doctor from accessing patients' medical histories and verifying correct medication dosages online. Due to the blackout, the doctor has been unable to continue his work documenting the casualty toll from the January protest crackdown. "We now have the Islamic Republic on steroids," said the doctor. "We are afraid they will take this revenge out on the people, which they very openly see as the enemy from inside."

Nighttime explosions have lit up the skies during the war, an engineer said. One evening, an explosion shook the engineer's home while he was hosting guests. After the explosion, the engineer and his guests went onto the roof but did not observe any visible fire.

Private businesses in Iran have closed for days at a time or reduced employees' working hours since the war began, while government employees continued to receive their salaries. Iranian authorities have organized pro-government street rallies to demonstrate support for the theocratic government. The Basij paramilitary force has increased its internal security patrols during the war and has been targeted by airstrikes. Iran has denied that any negotiations with the United States are underway.

"There is no sign of hope, no dreams, no joy," said a lawyer in southwestern Iran who has represented detained protesters and women's rights defenders. "Worry about the future has taken over."