Ceasefire offers reprieve as Iranians endure conflict in Tehran

[0:00] Well, the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is now four weeks old. [0:03] As we've heard this evening, the efforts to resolve the conflict are fraught, but they do continue. [0:09] For the people of Iran, who've endured decades of repression and economic privation, [0:14] and now a devastating air war, the ceasefire brought a reprieve. [0:17] But the threats and counter-threats between Washington and Tehran persist, [0:21] as does the specter of renewed conflict. [0:24] Special correspondent Reza Sayah in Tehran ventured out into a city on edge. [0:31] Under dust and debris, a picture of some of the hundreds of school-age students [0:37] Hamid Reza Afarideh taught throughout 15 years in his music academy that lies now in ruins. [0:46] On the morning of March 23, an American or Israeli airstrike hit this building [0:52] in a business district in eastern Tehran. [0:56] The exact target of the strike was not clear, [0:58] but it destroyed the school Hamid Reza spent his life savings to build. [1:07] You raise a child for 15 years, and in one night, that child dies. [1:12] It's like your life crashing down over your head. [1:15] Hamid Reza says he's determined to rebuild, [1:18] but fresh fear of war has everything on hold. [1:22] Every day we see the headlines and ask what's going to happen. [1:25] It's scary. It's a nightmare. [1:28] Hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz this week, [1:31] and new threats of war have many here on edge. [1:38] Every night at Valiya Square, Iranians gather for pro-government rallies. [1:46] Bahar al-Sharifi volunteers for the most popular attraction, [1:50] a group effort to keep Iran's flag waving through the night. [1:54] As long as this leadership is here, I'm going to keep this flag up high, [2:00] and it feels good to see thousands of like-minded people who are willing, [2:04] like myself, to sacrifice our lives for our flag. [2:07] Her cargo pants and loose hijab scream Western liberal. [2:12] But if there is more war, she says, she stands with the Islamic Republic. [2:16] I hope it doesn't happen again, but I believe in the wisdom of our leaders and strategists [2:23] and their decisions and honesty. [2:25] If they decide it's right for us to resist again, I won't be happy, [2:28] but if it's necessary, we will stand with them. [2:31] I think we are going to see more war. [2:34] Tehran-based political analyst Fawad Izedi says twice in nine months, [2:39] in the middle of negotiations, the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. [2:43] It would be a mistake, he says, for Iran not to be ready for a third attack. [2:49] I think sooner or later Trump realizes that this is a failed policy. [2:55] He is not there yet. [2:56] He thinks that with a few more bombings and a few weeks of attacks, [3:01] maybe he can achieve what he wants. [3:03] This is what the Israelis are telling him. [3:05] And what happens if the U.S. does attack Iran again? [3:09] Same thing that you saw in the 40 days. [3:11] Iran will respond, maybe in a harsher manner. [3:16] Iran has no other choice. [3:18] The Islamic Republic is fighting in economic war, too. [3:21] The 40-day U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign [3:25] and the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz [3:28] has oil exports and the value of Iranian currency near an all-time low. [3:35] Inflation is at an all-time high. [3:37] Authorities here say using land routes with Iran's mostly friendly neighbors [3:42] for oil exports and trade will help. [3:45] But there is no avoiding the economic crisis. [3:48] So there are ways of going around these type of sanctions, [3:52] but they are going to be painful and they are going to be real. [3:56] The Islamic Republic is seemingly attempting to relieve the economic pain [4:03] by easing control over social freedoms. [4:07] Today, singers and performers regularly defy the state ban on street music. [4:15] More women walk the streets of Tehran without the hijab, [4:19] the very act that launched a wave of protest in 2022 [4:23] after the death of Mahsa Amini, [4:27] arrested for allegedly not wearing the hijab. [4:31] This is something we've achieved at great cost [4:33] and we're going to fight to keep it tooth and nail. [4:36] In this Tehran cafe, Iranians meet every week [4:40] to debate their political views. [4:42] It helps us understand our collective experience [4:46] and things we all went through, [4:48] especially the war and the hopes and fears we all experienced together. [4:52] And in the streets of Tehran, [4:54] more women than ever are riding motorcycles. [4:58] Law student's Shakiba Shukri says the new freedoms are nice, [5:02] but not enough. [5:03] We're, you know, having a lot here these days, [5:08] but I know we'll pass this and we will show the world [5:13] that we're strong enough to do anything we want. [5:17] What remains a red line for authorities [5:19] is anything deemed a threat to government security. [5:23] Since March, authorities have executed two dozen protesters [5:27] accused of working with foreign enemies [5:30] to sow unrest in mass anti-government demonstrations in January, [5:35] where thousands of protesters and hundreds of security forces were killed. [5:42] Since the start of the war, [5:43] authorities have silenced anti-government street protests. [5:47] A woman who took part in the January demonstrations [5:50] asked not to be filmed, but shared this statement. [5:55] It doesn't matter how long our journey is, [5:57] we will keep fighting to make our voices heard [6:00] and for a free and democratic Iran. [6:03] A day after bombs destroyed his music academy, [6:09] Hamid Reza Afarideh made this viral video. [6:15] He sat in his ruins and played his kamonche, [6:19] the classic Iranian string instrument. [6:24] It was his personal call for peace. [6:27] With the White House reporting progress in talks with Iran, [6:31] for Hamid Reza and millions of Iranians, [6:34] an end to the war may now be in sight. [6:36] For the PBS NewsHour, I'm Reza Sayah in Tehran. [6:42] Support journalism you trust. [6:44] Support PBS News. [6:47] Donate now, or even better, [6:48] start a monthly contribution today.