How people in Iran feel about ceasefire with U.S., upcoming peace talks

Alex Shams, the editor-in-chief of the AJAM Media Collection, provided insights to CBS News in early 2025 regarding the cautious and weary reactions of his family and other citizens in Iran to the fragile ceasefire currently in place with the United States, as the two nations prepare for upcoming peace talks. This perspective emerges from a context of prolonged geopolitical tension and economic hardship within Iran, where the population has long borne the brunt of international sanctions and the threat of conflict. The report highlights a prevailing sense of skepticism and wariness among ordinary Iranians. While the cessation of hostilities offers a temporary respite from the immediate fear of military escalation, there is little widespread optimism about the durability of the peace or the potential outcomes of the negotiations. Many view the ceasefire as a precarious pause rather than a pathway to a lasting resolution, given the deep-seated mistrust between the Iranian government and successive U.S. administrations. The public mood is characterized more by exhaustion and a desire for normalcy than by jubilation. Shams's account underscores the significant disconnect between the official state narrative and the lived experiences of the Iranian people. Government rhetoric may frame diplomatic engagements as victories, but for families, the primary concerns remain economic survival, access to basic goods, and long-term stability. The upcoming talks are thus watched with a mixture of hope for relief and fear of further disappointment or renewed confrontation. This internal perspective is crucial for understanding the complex domestic pressures that Iranian negotiators will carry to the bargaining table, where public sentiment for tangible improvements in daily life will weigh against hardline geopolitical positions. Ultimately, the report paints a picture of a populace that is deeply affected by international relations but feels largely powerless to influence them. The ceasefire and impending diplomacy are seen as events happening to them, dictated by external powers and their own government. The true measure of success for any agreement, from this ground-level view, will be its ability to translate diplomatic language into concrete economic and social benefits for Iranian citizens, breaking the cycle of tension and deprivation that has defined recent years.