As Iran Braces for War, Its Citizens Are Kept in the Dark...Arab and Western Nations Urge Restraint as Israel-Iran Tensions Simmer

"Iranians say they have not been told how to prepare should broad hostilities break out between their country and Israel."

"All government agencies and offices were closed Wednesday in Tehran, and in 13 provinces, including some along the western and eastern borders, hours for government offices were limited to 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Iran also issued a notice to civilian aviation, warning that “gunfire will take place” for several hours on Wednesday night and into Thursday over parts of the country.

As Iran prepares to follow through on its vow to “severely punish” Israel over the assassination of the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week, it is raising war jitters among the public. Yet there were few, if any, signs on the streets of Tehran and other cities that a conflict may be looming."
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/07/world/middleeast/iran-israel-war.html

"Arab and Western countries, seeking to head off a major regional conflict in the Middle East, are urging Iran to show restraint after it vowed to attack Israel in retaliation for the killing of Hamas’s political leader in Tehran last week.

The diplomatic push by Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which have close ties to Washington, came as the United States, France and other countries have also been trying to lower tensions in the Middle East and renew stalled efforts to achieve a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Anxiety across the region has been running high since an explosion in Tehran — widely attributed to Israel — killed Hamas’s political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, on July 31, just hours after an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon killed a top Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukr."
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/07/world/middleeast/iran-israel-retaliation.html