Tehran wary of American bombs as memories of bloody crackdown still sting

Tehran, Iran — 

Just weeks after thousands of Iranians were killed in a brutal crackdown on dissent, life in the capital appeared to be back in full swing here on Tuesday. But the air of normality masks an uneasy truth – that many here feel trapped between the Iranian government’s rhetoric and US President Donald Trump’s threats of military action.

Trump has warned that an “armada” is heading toward Iran. “We have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case. I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely.”

The first of those ships – aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and a group of guided missile destroyers – have arrived within striking distance.