Where the War Is Still a War
Residents of Iran's southern coast are facing ongoing military strikes as part of a broader, ambiguous conflict between Iran and the United States. Despite official claims of a 'neither war, nor peace' status, civilians are experiencing significant destruction and infrastructure failure.
Why it matters
The report highlights the human cost of ongoing geopolitical tensions and the disconnect between government rhetoric and the reality on the ground for civilians.
The southern coast of Iran is still getting battered. Some Iranians want their government’s hawks to see for themselves.
Hassan Ghaedi / Anadolu / Getty July 17, 2026, 10:01 AM ET Share Save An adviser to Iran’s negotiating team recently said that Tehran should ready itself for years of “neither war, nor peace.” The phrase has become popular among Iranian political analysts trying to make sense of an ostensibly ambiguous situation: The conflict is supposedly over, but Iran’s military keeps striking ships and U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf, and the United States keeps bombing Iran.
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