‘This has got me worried’: Iranians fear what comes next after US strike on Karaj bridge
‘This has got me worried’: Iranians fear what comes next after US strike on Karaj bridge
On Thursday, an attack on an unfinished bridge in Karaj, a city located west of Tehran, left eight casualties and nearly 100 injured. The bombing occurred during the 13th day of Nowruz celebrations, when many had gathered for picnics near the B1 suspension bridge. The strike, carried out by US warplanes, targeted the structure twice, raising concerns about the escalating conflict. President Donald Trump has since warned Iran that further strikes on bridges and power facilities are imminent unless its leaders accept his conditions to end the war.
Trump’s threat and Iran’s defiance
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, claimed that his military force has yet to fully dismantle Iran’s infrastructure. He urged the New Regime leadership to act swiftly, stating that “what has to be done must be done fast.” In contrast, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the strikes as symbolic, asserting they reflect the “defeat and moral collapse” of the enemy. He argued that damaging Iran’s infrastructure would not force surrender, but instead “damage America’s standing beyond recovery.”
“Our Military, the greatest and most powerful (by far!) anywhere in the World, hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran,” Trump wrote. “New Regime leadership knows what must be done, and it must be done swiftly!”
“Striking civilian structures, including unfinished bridges, will not compel Iranians to surrender,” Araghchi said. “This strike only conveys the defeat and moral collapse of an enemy in disarray.”
Voices from inside Iran
Despite the internet blackout in Iran, which has persisted for 35 days, some citizens have managed to connect via satellite systems like Starlink. Using such technology can result in up to two years of imprisonment. Those who spoke to BBC Persian shared fears about the attack’s implications. A woman in her 20s in Tehran expressed distress, tears flowing as she recounted: “I feel helpless. [Trump] posts shamelessly about attacking our bridge. I don’t know how much further this is going to go.”
“Why is no-one standing up to him? He’s really taking us back to the Stone Age,” she said.
Another man in his 20s, who supports the war, voiced uncertainty about the strike’s purpose. “That bridge could have reduced city traffic… it was destroyed in the second strike. This strike has got me worried. I don’t know why they hit it,” he added. A woman in her 40s, also backing the US-Israeli military campaign, acknowledged surprise at the target but speculated: “I was really surprised that they hit a bridge… but I think they must have a reason for it.”
Public backlash and retaliation demands
Hardline pro-establishment Iranians on social media condemned the strike, with some calling for retaliation against US bases in neighboring countries. Others viewed the attack as a broader strategy to “destroy Iran” rather than solely targeting its military assets. Meanwhile, the BBC noted that a few officials, media figures, and supporters still maintain internet access, suggesting a divide in how the crisis is being managed internally.
