Inside Iran, some citizens are already preparing for 'freedom day'

In the emergency ward of a hospital in Tehran, Soroya has witnessed unspeakable atrocities committed by Iran's rulers.

Earlier this year, the Iranian doctor treated a flood of protesters who were shot by Iran's security forces for demonstrating against the regime.

But Soroya witnessed something different soon after the United States and Israel launched their attack on Saturday.

As news spread that Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, had been killed, Soroya noticed the emergency room "was like a party".

"A lot of patients that came to emergency were people who [had been] drinking heavily to celebrate the news of the death of Khamenei," Soroya told the ABC through a voice note.

That, Soroya said, was how she found out the ayatollah had been killed.

"We did not hear any news ourselves [of Khamenei's death], as we did not have any internet or satellite connection," she said.

"We were made aware by the happiness of the [patients we saw]. And many of them were … shocked by the news.

"It was like they were having panic attacks while they were laughing. It was very strange. I have not seen anything like this before."

The ABC heard from many Iranians inside the country in the hours after Israel and the United States began their strikes.

Most communications took place via voice notes during intermittent periods of internet connection because of the near-total phone and internet blackout imposed by the regime since early January.

There is no one feeling that can summarise how they felt at that moment in time.

Like those in the emergency room, there were feelings of elation and celebration that the people who had oppressed them for four decades could be starting to fall.

But there was also fear and anxiety over what would come next.

Will the war be protracted? Will the democratic future they've been hoping for be derailed? And who will be Iran's next leader?

Some Iranians feel like they are on the cusp of freedom and want the US and Israel to stay the course.

Others distrust the motives of those responsible for the intervention and are calling for an immediate end to the war before more civilian lives are lost.

People inside Iran can face retaliation from the regime if they talk to foreign media, so most names in this story are pseudonyms to protect their identities.

Celebrations 'like a wedding'

In the first days of the war, before news of civilian lives being lost emerged, some Iranians were mostly positive.

Some initially celebrated news of the supreme leader's death, having been subjected to decades of authoritarian rule.

"People were really happy [when Khamenei was killed]," said Nazanin, who comes from a small town near Rasht, a city about 300 kilometres north-east of Tehran, near the Caspian Sea.

"We all are showing victory signs and we are truly happy. 

We all kept saying, 'Finally [former crown prince Reza] Pahlavi will return.'"

She said many people were beeping their car horns and "screaming out of joy".

"We always wished for their [the regime's] death — the death of those who slaughtered so many youth," she said.

Fatemeh, a 45-year-old engineer from Tehran, also celebrated the news of Khamenei's death.

"It was like a wedding here. There was cheering and celebration," she said.

"But there are some people who are very upset and crying. Most people, though, are happy."

In Isfahan, a historic city about 440km south of Tehran, Roya was woken up by the sound of explosions on Saturday.

By night, the news of Khamenei's death had spread, and people were overwhelmed with joy.

She told the ABC in a note that cheering and chants of "Long live the Shah" could be heard from people's homes.

"Everyone was filled with happiness," she said.

"Some people came out into the streets, honking their car horns."

But soon afterwards, plain-clothed forces arrived on motorcycles and began shooting at the crowd, Roya said.

"They attacked people's cars with stones and chains, which caused the crowd to disperse and people to scatter," she added.

For others, war sparks 'anger and rage'

While some are celebrating, there are Iranians like Bahman Ahmadi Amouee who are not. He is a journalist and activist who is opposed to the war and worried about the civilian lives that will be lost as it drags on.

"Beyond the killing, wounding, and destruction affecting some military and political commanders and forces, a significant portion of those killed have been ordinary people," he said.

"Especially girls and young people in Iran, who were killed at medical and educational centres.

"No ordinary human being can see or hear these things and feel happiness. Absolutely not."

He said the Islamic Republic had ramped up security across the capital.

"In key areas and main squares, there are checkpoints with large numbers of agents and security and military forces controlling people's movement," he said.

"There is a wartime posture and they anticipate all kinds of sabotage. They are, in a sense, on full alert."

Four days into the war, he sent the ABC voice notes, describing what had happened as "extremely painful and terrible events".

"Yes, it's possible that some individuals, privately, feel pleased at the idea that with this war the Islamic Republic might fall — whether that will happen is another discussion," he said.

"People are deeply distressed, and day by day their anger and rage at this war is growing.

"As I record these voices for you right now, the sound of explosions can be heard loudly from around us. People are under immense pressure."

The scene inside the country

As the war continues, people inside Iran have been uneasy, even if they are hopeful the regime will fall.

Fatemeh said that since the war started, she had only left her home once.

"I went into the city for a short drive," she said.

"I saw guards everywhere with guns and covered faces, and they even placed a machine gun mounted on a pick-up truck in the middle of the city.

"I hope soon we can gather here together, eat ice cream and laugh. For now, we're staying at home."

Fatemeh said some people whose homes were near the explosions "aren't in good condition".

"They struck near my friend's house, and the windows were shattered," she said.

"Those who have small children are having a hard time. The kids are scared."

Roya said several times since the war broke out, she had been woken by explosions and witnessed missiles flying in the sky.

"At night, the air-defence systems were active and started firing," she said.

"People were somewhat distressed, and before schools were officially closed, children were taken home from school.

"Supermarkets were crowded, and everyone was buying essential supplies for a few days.

"Most people were happy that the war had finally started, but the faces of government supporters were full of fear and anxiety."

She said people were able to leave their houses because only military targets were attacked and residential areas were safe.

"However, the streets were jammed due to people's anxiety to return home and buy essential goods, making traffic somewhat difficult," she said.

'Shock waves of explosions'

Parisa, a journalist and civil rights activist in Tehran, said the US and Israeli intervention had been "extremely terrifying" and "much worse than the 12-day war".

"And unfortunately, we have now heard that … [US President Donald] Trump has said the attacks will become more extensive," she said in a voice note to the ABC, sent on the fourth day of strikes.

"After what happened in our neighbourhood, many people are packing their belongings and preparing to leave the city."

Parisa said there were waves of attacks and explosions in her neighbourhood from the first day of the war.

"At around 10:30am when they first struck the Seyed Khandan area, which is very close to us … three shock waves of explosions made us jump up," she said.

"Around noon, they struck Narmak Square, which people say is where [former president] Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used to live, although they say the place was empty. Again, the blast wave threw us."

She said this continued through the second day and into the night.

"Niloufar Square in Tehran, where they had hit a police station, was completely devastated," she said.

"The entire street had been flattened, all the windows had been blown out, and there were bodies lying on the street."

Parisa said the strikes escalated on Monday and that "was truly the most frightening day".

"I stayed home the entire time," she said.

"Around noon or one o'clock, I was sitting on the couch when there was a terrifying sound.

"I stood up to move to the middle of the room so the window glass wouldn't fall on me, and suddenly a massive shock wave threw me across the house.

"I realised they had hit the street right next to ours."

When she went outside, she said it looked like a residential building had been hit.

"I stayed for a short time watching. I couldn't determine what the casualties were, but the entire area had been damaged," she said.

"They were evacuating all the houses in that street because they said there were explosives there that might later detonate. They were urging everyone in the neighbourhood to leave their homes. The attacks continued like that with constant explosions."

Separately, she said, a neighbour's shop in Narmak Square was "completely destroyed".

"He survived almost miraculously because he had been standing in a part of the shop that did not collapse," Parisa said.

"They were completely in shock. When he came out of his shop, he said bodies were lying on the ground everywhere.

"He tried to help and saw the body of a woman who had been a pedestrian. Her face was completely covered in dust. They wiped the dust from her face and saw that her entire face had been burned.

"He couldn't do anything. He said the emergency responders who arrived took her away first."

Signs of a crackdown

Many of those supporting the US-Israel intervention had participated in protests that swept the country in late December and early January, only to be met by a brutal crackdown by Iran's security forces.

Behrooz, an Australian Iranian who is currently stuck in Tehran because of the war, described the situation there as "good and bad".

"Because of what has happened to these corrupt rulers, who are one by one eliminated … people are very happy," he told the ABC in a voice note in Farsi.

"The ones who are supporting the regime are in hiding, [they are] not as strong like before to oppress people."

But other Iranians have reported that a crackdown is underway.

Nazanin from Rasht said after the supreme leader was killed, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Sepah, the regime's intelligence, were cracking down on people celebrating in the street and closing roads.

"First, they emptied the streets by saying Khamenei was murdered, but then suddenly the IRGC arrived with guns in their hands and they threatened people who wanted to take videos," Nazanin said.

She also witnessed teenage troops from the Basij, a paramilitary force within the IRGC, being deployed to the streets.

"I wish we were allowed to show our joy publicly. I even got sweets and pastries to share amongst the crowd, but unfortunately, there were many military officers outside," she said.

"They [regime supporters] were having their own mourning show, wearing black clothes. They even brought their children."

While security ramped up, Nazanin said some younger IRGC soldiers urged her to celebrate.

This could signal that some inside the military forces may be open to defecting from the weakening regime.

"When we would pass them by, they kept telling us, 'Beep your car horns, beep your car horns, show your joy,'" Nazanin said.

"They would say it discreetly and only to younger girls."

Imagining 'freedom day'

In Isfahan, Leyla sent a voice note to the ABC in which she envisages the return of former crown prince Reza Pahlavi, who has vowed to transition Iran to a secular democracy if the regime falls.

"We think about what to do when we are free. I'm going to book my hair to be coloured from now to prepare for freedom day," she said.

Baran, a stay-at-home mum in Tehran, sent a voice note in English when the strikes broke out, saying she was ready to pay "whatever it costs to free our country".

"I want my voice to be heard as a mum, as a daughter, and a wife," she said.

"I'm already 39. We tried different ways to free our country. None of which worked. And I want the world to know this."