Iranians have been grappling with a year of crisis - widespread protests, violent crackdowns, political assassinations, economic sanctions and now a global health crisis that has overwhelmed the country.
The first day of spring turned into a bittersweet occasion as the deadly coronavirus outbreak coincided with the Iranian new year, Nowrouz. The complex reality of the devastating pandemic altered people’s way of life. Family visits, parties and picnics were suspended.
As the spread of the coronavirus intensified, my friend Yasaman quarantined herself in my apartment for several weeks. As we gradually adapted to a new way of life, my friends and I began meeting in open spaces around Tehran. In a way, we were seeking comfort in each other - a brief escape from the quiet violence and mental war that had washed over our lives.
This is a story about what happens to a country that is constantly dealing with turmoil. It is an intimate account of a people who are living in a permanent state of limbo amid the coronavirus outbreak. It is a reflection of how the world will someday remember Iran in this time of isolation and uncertainty.
