From online class to Revolution Square: A Tehran teacher’s routine amid war
The “Ramadan War”, as the US-Israel war on Iran is popularly known, disrupted daily life in Iran. Universities, schools and industries were bombed, and streets were emptied out. Mehran, a 47-year-ol…
The “Ramadan War”, as the US-Israel war on Iran is popularly known, disrupted daily life in Iran. Universities, schools and industries were bombed, an
Read Full Story at Al Jazeera →Why This Matters
The story of Mehran’s daily struggle underscores how war reshapes civilian life beyond the battlefield, forcing ordinary people to adapt in ways that blur the line between survival and resistance. His routine—balancing virtual education with the grim realities of urban devastation—exposes the hidden costs of prolonged conflict, where even the most mundane tasks become acts of defiance against eroded stability.
Background Context
The "Ramadan War" isn’t just a military campaign; it’s a systemic unraveling of Iran’s infrastructure, where decades of sanctions and now aerial assaults have left institutions like education scrambling to function. The targeting of universities and schools isn’t accidental—it’s a calculated disruption of societal cohesion, leaving a generation caught between digital exile and physical peril.
What Happens Next
As the war drags on, Mehran’s hybrid model of teaching may become the norm, but its sustainability hinges on access to reliable internet and electricity—both increasingly precarious under sustained bombardment. The regime’s ability to maintain public order will depend on whether it can co-opt such adaptations or if dissent simmers beneath the surface of apparent compliance.
Bigger Picture
Mehran’s story reflects a global pattern: war no longer pauses for institutions, forcing professionals to improvise or collapse. In an era where hybrid resilience is a necessity, his dual role as educator and survivor challenges traditional notions of resilience, revealing how conflict reshapes identity and duty in ways that outlast the guns.

