National identity reborn; how Iran’s Gen Z tipped the scales of war
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Once dismissed as disconnected and apathetic, Iran’s Gen Z has emerged as a powerful force of national identity following Israeli strikes on Tehran. Their transformation, from digital dissent to vocal defense of their homeland, shattered years of foreign influence in just days.
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National identity reborn; how Iran’s Gen Z tipped the scales of war (Al Mayadeen)
In a context where Iran’s Generation Z was often dismissed as an aimless cohort lacking true national belonging, their reaction to the recent Israeli war on Iran delivered a stunning turnaround. Born into the Internet age and raised in a digital environment, these young Iranians had never experienced the Revolution firsthand nor lived through the eight-year war with Iraq. Yet when the drums of war echoed across their cities, they stepped out from behind their screens defending their country’s identity and sovereignty in the language of their era. They effectively responded to the efforts of foreign powers to disconnect them from concepts of homeland, identity, and loyalty.
During the 2022 protests, ignited by the death of young Mahsa Amini, many outside observers believed Generation Z would topple the regime and fulfill a decodes-long dream. Some even framed them as flexible “Internet warriors” whose dissent could be a strategic asset. Slogans like “Islamic Republic Football Team” instead of the “Iranian National Team,” or “Flag of the Islamic Republic” in place of “Flag of Iran,” proliferated online in an attempt to sever the nation’s cultural identity from its political system.
In reality, Iran’s Gen Z did not witness the struggle before the Islamic Revolution and the repercussions of ousting the monarchy, they do not know the 8-year war waged by the Saddam Hussein regime against Iran. Most of this generation wished for immigration, feeling alienated in their homeland; but the booming sounds of Israeli missiles in Tehran was enough to wake them up. Death became reality, the enemy clear; they understood the resposibility of defending their national identity.
The missile shockwave: Collective awareness
Hania Azizi told Al Mayadeen Net, “I was chasing views, filming the funeral of martyrs just to boost my follower count, until I saw the tiny coffins of children pass by. I felt as though I’d been asleep and suddenly woke up. That moment changed my life entirely.”
On June 12, 2025, as Israeli missiles struck multiple cities, many Gen Z experienced a genuine shock. The true enemy of Iran, those who tried to win this generation's famvor in the 2022 unrest, was clear as day. The martyrdom of military commanders, nuclear scientists, and even young civilians from their own generation served as a powerful wake-up call, shattering the notion that they were weak or naive; foreign campaigns to influence them unraveled overnight.
Reflected to Al Mayadeen net, activist Saber Mahdavi said, “Colonial powers cannot tolerate an independent Iran, especially not in the scientific field. Scientific independence scares them more than the bomb itself.”
While Maryam Azadeh added, “After Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and the assault on my country, I read extensively about Western colonialism and realized that our generation could have been its unaware tool. Palestine isn’t just a humanitarian cause; this aggression targets our identity and our very existence.”
Confessions and transformations: Stories from Gen Z
Contrary to expectations, many young Iranians openly expressed regret over their 2022 actions, describing them as superficial and impulsive, manipulated by external interests. Their apologies turned into action: they launched massive digital campaigns celebrating Iran in both Persian and English. In one viral clip, a teenage girl in Tehran’s Azadi Square, wearing a Palestinian Koufiyeh, took to a megaphone: “They told us to evacuate Tehran, but we’ll only leave in body bags. Death to Israel.”
Another video, garnering over 5.6 million views, featured Dunya Abdi mocking Israeli media:
“They claimed Tehran’s heat was so intense that we blew up a water main,” referring to the Israeli strike on the Tajrish Square, leading to an explosion in the main water pipeline in the area. “And since your power went out after Iran struck Haifa’s electricity station, we lit up your city’s night sky with our hypersonic missiles. You weren’t the ones who delivered the strike, but a few traitors at home.”
In a satirical clip with 1.5 million views, Asal Ghorayi addressed monarchists, “Khamenei, why don’t you just step aside and let Prince Reza Pahlavi come build Iran? Don’t mind the wife he can’t control, his backing of Israel’s aggression against us, or even his inability to open a bottle of water. He’s the Shah’s son, everything’s guaranteed for him. But you, Mr. Khamenei, you’ve spent your life suffering and striving for Iran and stood by its people. We love you, we appreciate you, and we’ll stand by you to the end.”
Meanwhile, an anonymous young woman known as “Iranka” addressed President Trump in English (with Hebrew subtitles), “I am Iranian, and today I stand in my country stronger than ever. Mr. Trump, your threats are nothing but big lies. Watch your back!”
The 'dismantling Iran' project fades: The west concedes
These clips were accompanied by mass awareness campaigns under hashtags such as #پای_ایرانم #جانم_فدای_ایران #لبیک_یا_خامنهای which translate to #ForMyIran, #SacrificeMyLifeForIran, and #AtYourServiceKhamenei respectively. Tens of thousands also joined a Friday “March of Anger” to mourn martyrs and demonstrate support for Iran and its leadership.
In just a few days, Generation Z shattered billions of dollars’ worth of media and security investments aimed at disunite them. Even the architects of the so-called “soft coups” abroad conceded that the Israeli strike had set back their plans by nearly twenty years.
Iran’s Generation Z is no longer what it once was. The very generation once labeled as lost may well be the one to rebuild the meanings of homeland, dignity, and independence, using its own language and means.
