How are Iranians reacting to the missile attack on Israel?

Iranian netizens are expressing highly contradictory opinions about Tuesday’s missile attack on Israel, ranging from strong approval to calls for Israel to retaliate forcefully.

Posts from Iranian hardliners and ultra-hardliners expressed both enthusiasm for the missile strike and frustration with President Masoud Pezeshkian. This group, which typically supports Saeed Jalili, an ultra-conservative politician and former nuclear negotiator, criticized Pezeshkian and his Strategic Deputy, Mohammad-Javad Zarif, for delaying a response to Israel after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. They argued that the government’s retaliation came too late, further deepening their dissatisfaction with Pezeshkian's leadership.

“Yes, you are right, war is scary but sometimes there’s no other option. War is like chemotherapy which has pain, costs, side effects and may even not work but it is sometimes the only and final path,” a pro-Jalili netizen posted.

“Patience and delay in revenge for Haniyeh did not stop the brutal killing. Fear of war causes war [because] it rouses the enemy’s greed,” another ultra-hardliner tweeted.

“Understand this you idiots: war can only be prevented with firing missiles. Showing fear and weakness is the biggest contributor to the start of a war,” a post by a similarly-minded netizen who used the hashtag #وعده_صادق٢ (Operation True Promise 2) read.

Some ordinary Iranians, who don't seem to support the establishment but may have backed Pezeshkian's presidency in hopes that he could improve their lives, are now expressing fears about the situation escalating into a full-scale war between the Islamic Republic and Israel.

“Israel has yet not responded to last night’s attack. We, the people, live in the shadow of fear, anxiety, and trepidation. We are worried about our children. Queues have formed for gasoline and we are waiting to see what is going to happen,” a netizen who has blamed the Islamic Republic for “starting the war” in her other tweets posted on X.

“The people of the future should know that the reason for the war was the Islamic Republic’s interference and full support for Palestine when other Islamic and Arab countries had withdrawn and were in complete silence,” she wrote in another tweet with the hashtag #نه_به_جنگ ("No to war").

Many who advocate for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic, identifying as barandaz (those who seek regime change), are blaming Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his loyalists for actions that they believe could push the country into a devastating war.

Some within the barandaz group, who support the return of monarchy to Iran and view Israel as an ally of the Iranian people, are actively urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strike the Islamic Republic and its leaders.

They argue a massive strike is even more warranted, and justified, in retaliation for Iran's second attack on Israel Tuesday with ballistic missiles.

“They are enemies of humanity. Strike the houses of IRGC generals and top officials of the regime, IRGC bases, seminaries, and mosques. We are ready to pay that price for the weakening of the regime and its annihilation too if you are forced to strike infrastructures,” a barandaz tweeted with the hashtag #اسرائیل_بزن (Israel strike [the Islamic Republic]).

“Beware of the Islamic Republic’s self-inflicted harms to defame Israel and to earn international attention and pity. Avoid going to religious events and crowded public venues. Be careful not to fall victim to Khamenei’s ambition and madness,” a dissident netizen tweeted with the same hashtag.

Other netizens on X who share similar views have suggested that Israel target nuclear sites, refineries, the parliament, the president’s office, and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s residence.

However, there is also criticism of the barandaz who encourage Israeli attacks, with opponents arguing that such actions would cause widespread suffering and devastation for all Iranians, regardless of their political beliefs.

“My friends who think that Iranian people and the regime are separate, my dears, your food on the table will be less and your home will be destroyed if Israel strikes infrastructures. Israel will not give you a dollar even if the regime collapses. Look at the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan and stop posting [Instagram] stories and tweets [to tell] Israel to strike Iran…,” a Finland-based Iranian who appears unsympathetic to the establishment in his tweets posted on X.

“I feel sorry about those who are happy with the beginning of the war, whether they are supporters of the regime or its opponents. You haven’t seen war at close and don’t know what war means, I only know about the damages and consequences of war from what I’ve observed in friends and acquaintances, too … Remember that bombs and missiles don’t have eyes. Living and dead trees both burn when there’s a fire in the forest,” another opponent of war who appears to be living in Iran tweeted.