‘Endless fears’: Even if fighting stops, the damage to Iran’s children will endure
Endless fears: Even if fighting stops, the damage to Iran’s children will endure
The war haunts his thoughts constantly. A slamming door or dropped cutlery sends shivers through him. The ceasefire offers no relief from this persistent anxiety. “Before the conflict, I felt no stress at all,” shares Ali. “Now, even the smallest noise makes my brain react violently.” At just 15 years old, Ali recognizes how the relentless sounds of US and Israeli airstrikes have embedded fear into his psyche. These auditory triggers provoke an automatic startle response, leaving him hyper vigilant. “Explosions, shock waves, and the roar of fighter jets overhead can deeply affect a child’s mind,” he explains.
The Psychological Toll on Young Minds
Over 20% of Iran’s population is under 14 – approximately 20.4 million children – many now grappling with trauma. Psychologists identify the symptoms Ali exhibits as hyper arousal, a potential early sign of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His father, unemployed due to the war, and his mother, perpetually on edge, provide a backdrop of domestic unease. “My mother stays home, but whenever jets fly overhead, she shows clear signs of anxiety,” Ali notes. “I’ve lost contact with friends and can’t focus on studies. I should be growing up, not living in constant fear of bombs and political uncertainty.”
The children’s world has shrunk. With schools closed and streets monitored by regime militias, families remain indoors, waiting for the ceasefire to hold. Across the region, from Iran to Lebanon and Israel, the war has left young lives marked by anxiety. Through trusted local sources, the BBC has gathered testimonies from parents and caregivers struggling to protect their children. One anonymous mother, counseled by Aysha at a Tehran human rights center, voices deep despair. “If you can, create a calm environment for him. Play with him, keep him engaged. If that fails, bring him back here,” Aysha advises. The center reports rising cases of sleep disturbances, nightmares, and even aggression. “When you raise a child only to see them killed in protests or war, no parent would want to bring a child into the world,” Aysha says.
A Call to Arms for the Youth
The Iranian regime has actively mobilized children for military service. Under its security laws, recruiting those under 15 is permitted, contradicting international humanitarian standards. Officials have urged parents to send their sons to checkpoints, framing it as a rite of passage. “Do you want your son to become a man? Let him command the battlefield and feel like a hero,” one regime figure urged during a televised speech. “Mothers and fathers, take your children to the roadblocks at night.”
For 11-year-old Alireza Jafari, this call to arms proved fatal. Killed by a drone strike on 29 March while assisting his father at a checkpoint in Tehran, he expressed a desire to “become a martyr” before his death. His mother, Sadaf Monfared, shared this quote with a local newspaper. Amnesty International condemns the recruitment of minors as a “grave violation of international humanitarian law” and a war crime. The organization highlights that over 3,636 people have died in the conflict, including at least 254 children, with tens of thousands injured. The psychological and physical toll on the young continues long after the fighting ceases.
