The war in Iran has upended the lives of millions, not only within the region but across the globe. Seven individuals from seven countries shared with Kyodo News how the conflict has reshaped their daily existence.
In Tehran, a young mother said: "Every morning I wake up, I don't know if I'll see my child again after the airstrikes." She described constant evacuations, shuttered schools, and worsening hunger.
In Beirut, Lebanon, a 45-year-old businessman said his shipments are stuck at the port due to embargoes and tight border controls. "I've lost nearly 70% of my income in just a few months," he lamented.
In London, a retired diplomat who once served in the Middle East described a sense of helplessness while following the news: "What I see on TV is nothing short of a humanitarian disaster. I feel useless, unable to help."
Meanwhile, an Iranian student studying in Tokyo faces a family torn apart. "My parents are still in Tehran. Every call could be the last," she said through tears.
The conflict has also severely impacted logistics. A truck driver in Turkey said the freight route through Iran is frozen, forcing him to detour via Iraq, adding three days and doubling costs.
In the United States, a veteran who fought in Iraq voiced his trauma: "Every plane overhead reminds me of the past. I can't sleep soundly even thousands of miles from the battlefield."
In Australia, an Iranian family lost contact with relatives after a bombing raid. "We wait for news every day, but the phone lines are completely cut," the father said, choking up.
Seven stories, seven lives, all swept into the vortex of a war they never wanted. The upheaval goes beyond bombs and bullets, spreading into deep, hard-to-heal psychological wounds.
