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Documentary photo essay · Iran · March–July 2026

Iran at War

Across Tehran, Shiraz, Bandar Abbas, Minab and the Strait of Hormuz, a photographic account of a society absorbing war while work, ritual and family life continue.

An older man holds a piece of concrete beside a destroyed building beneath an Iranian flag.
An older man holds a piece of concrete beside a destroyed building beneath an Iranian flag. Iran, 2026.Photograph by Laurin Strele
Iran
March–July 2026

Between March and July 2026, Laurin Strele photographed across Iran as the war with Israel and the United States entered the country’s public and private life. A damaged school in Minab, ruined homes, medical facilities and memorial portraits appear alongside street rallies and the political imagery that shaped the atmosphere of Tehran.

Farther south, industrial workers, families and communities continued their routines around Bandar Abbas, Minab and the Strait of Hormuz. Rather than reduce Iran to the language of governments and weapons, the essay stays with the people living through the consequences, and with the tension between collective mobilization, personal grief and ordinary work.

The remains of a severely damaged building stand against the Tehran skyline.
The remains of a severely damaged building stand against the Tehran skyline. Tehran, Iran, 2026.
An anti-U.S. mural overlooks a wet street in Tehran at dusk.
An anti-U.S. mural overlooks a wet street in Tehran at dusk. Tehran, Iran, 2026.
A woman in a black chador takes part in a street game featuring caricatures of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu.
A woman in a black chador takes part in a street game featuring caricatures of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. Iran, 2026.
Women carry Iranian and yellow flags during a crowded gathering in Iran.
Women carry Iranian and yellow flags during a crowded gathering in Iran. Iran, 2026.
Men raise their fists and hold portraits during an indoor gathering in Iran.
Men raise their fists and hold portraits during an indoor gathering in Iran. Iran, 2026.
Two boys in camouflage hold rifles inside a prayer hall.
Two boys in camouflage hold rifles inside a prayer hall. Iran, 2026.
Visitors stand beneath an ancient rock relief in Iran.
Visitors stand beneath an ancient rock relief in Iran. Iran, 2026.
A man walks past the burned-out shell of a large vehicle on a road beneath mountains.
A man walks past the burned-out shell of a large vehicle on a road beneath mountains. Iran, 2026.
A man stands in profile before a pockmarked wall.
A man stands in profile before a pockmarked wall. Iran, 2026.
A man stands inside the burned-out interior of a building.
A man stands inside the burned-out interior of a building. Iran, 2026.
A man stands before a collapsed structure and a crushed vehicle.
A man stands before a collapsed structure and a crushed vehicle. Iran, 2026.
An older man watches an excavator work among the remains of a damaged building.
An older man watches an excavator work among the remains of a damaged building. Iran, 2026.
Two women sit before a destroyed building as one wipes tears from her face.
Two women sit before a destroyed building as one wipes tears from her face. Iran, 2026.
A woman gestures beside rubble and damaged trees.
A woman gestures beside rubble and damaged trees. Iran, 2026.
Damaged classroom inside a school in Minab, Iran.
A classroom inside a damaged school in Minab, southern Iran. Minab, southern Iran, 2026.
A man in a white coat stands inside a heavily damaged building.
A man in a white coat stands inside a heavily damaged building. Iran, 2026.
A woman holds a portrait of a boy inside a hall strewn with debris.
A woman holds a portrait of a boy inside a hall strewn with debris. Iran, 2026.
Rows of framed portraits of children cover a wall in Iran.
Rows of framed portraits of children cover a wall in Iran. Iran, 2026.
A woman wipes tears beneath a large portrait of a girl.
A woman wipes tears beneath a large portrait of a girl. Iran, 2026.
A man stands beside photographs and flowers in Iran.
A man stands beside photographs and flowers in Iran, 2026.
A young worker in a hard hat stands with four coworkers inside a dark tunnel.
A young worker in a hard hat stands with four coworkers inside a dark tunnel. Iran, 2026.
A woman in a hard hat stands inside a dark tunnel.
A woman in a hard hat stands inside a dark tunnel. Iran, 2026.
A woman wearing a red embroidered face covering stands with two children behind her.
A woman wearing a red embroidered face covering stands with two children behind her. Iran, 2026.
Expanded photograph