‘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 lingers in his mind now. A sudden knock or the clatter of dishes triggers a reflexive startle. The ceasefire has done little to ease the anxiety. “Before the conflict, I felt no pressure,” shares Ali, a 15-year-old whose identity is protected. “Now, even the faintest noise makes my brain react violently.” Despite his age, Ali comprehends how the echoes of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes have embedded themselves in his psyche, creating a state of constant alert. “Explosions, the shockwaves, and the roar of jets overhead leave a lasting mark,” he explains. The psychological toll on Iran’s youth is evident, with over 20% of the population—nearly 20.4 million children—experiencing trauma similar to his.

“The sound of explosions, the shock waves, and the sound of fighter jets flying over the city can have a very serious effect,” he says.

Parents’ Struggles and the Loss of Normalcy

Ali observes his family’s response to the ongoing conflict. The security of home life has faded. His father, unemployed due to the war, and his mother, perpetually anxious, offer no refuge. “She remains in the house, and each jet overhead causes her to panic,” he recounts. “I, too, am terrified. I no longer see my friends or have the chance to study. I should be preparing for the future, not living in dread of bombs and endless worries.”

Iranian children’s daily lives have contracted. With schools closed and streets patrolled by the regime’s militias, families are confined to their homes. There is little to do but wait, hoping the ceasefire lasts. Across the region—spanning Iran, Israel, the Gulf, and Lebanon—the war has instilled fear in the younger generation.

Supporting Families in Crisis

At a human rights center in Tehran, Aysha, a counselor with a changed name, assists a mother in distress over the phone. “Attempt the techniques I shared to calm his environment,” she advises. “Engage him in play, and if all else fails, bring him here.” Aysha notes the center is overwhelmed with calls and visits from concerned parents. “We see sleeplessness, nightmares, difficulty focusing, and even anger in children,” she says. “When a child is killed—whether in protests or war—parents question whether they should have brought them into the world.”

Children in the Line of Fire

According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which aggregates data from across Iran, 3,636 individuals have perished in the war. Among them are at least 254 children. The Iranian government has actively pushed to involve minors in combat. Parents are urged to send their children to join the Basij volunteer militia, a core force of state control. In a televised speech, a regime official declared, “Take your children by the hand and step onto the streets.” He framed the war as a test of masculinity for boys. “Do you want your son to grow into a man? Let him feel like a hero on the battlefield, leading the charge. Mothers and fathers, send your children to the checkpoints at night. These children will become men.”

For 11-year-old Alireza Jafari, this call to action meant tragedy. He was killed by a drone strike in Tehran on 29 March while assisting his father at a checkpoint. A local paper cited his mother, Sadaf Monfared, who said the boy expressed a desire to “become a martyr.” Amnesty International condemns the recruitment of children under 15 as a violation of international law, calling it a “grave breach of humanitarian norms” and a war crime. Under Iran’s security laws, such enlistment is permitted, exposing young lives to the frontlines of conflict.