In the early hours of Friday, Mehrdad, an engineer in Isfahan, Iran, woke to the sound of explosions as Israel attacked Iran. Concerns about a potential war arose, but the Iranian government seemed to be de-escalating tensions to focus on internal challenges. The country's economic troubles and social unrest have added to the government's need to assert its power. The recent crackdown on women for not observing the hijab law, coupled with the tensions with Israel, has heightened anxieties among the Iranian population. The government's strict response to criticism and dissent indicates a continued policy of hostility toward Israel and uncompromising enforcement of cultural and social rules.