Calkins: Iranians in Memphis say ‘It’s torture to even explain.’
A member of police special forces stands guard on top their car at the Enqelab-e-Eslami, or Islamic Revolution, square in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, March 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Geoff Calkins
Geoff Calkins has been chronicling Memphis and Memphis sports for more than two decades. Calkins has been named the best sports columnist in the country five times by the Associated Press sports editors, but still figures his best columns are about the people who make Memphis what it is.
The Daily Memphian asked local Iranians how they feel about the war. The prevailing sentiment? “The bombs do not scare us; what scares us is the war ending and the Islamic Republic still ruling Iran.”
Geoff Calkins on demand
Never miss an article. Sign up to receive Geoff Calkins' stories as they’re published.
Enter your e-mail address
Related stories
US to hold off striking Iranian power plants, Trump says in Memphis
“I directed the Department of War to temporarily postpone land strikes against major energy and electricity targets in Iran,” President Donald Trump said during his Memphis visit Monday, March 23.
Calkins: Trump came to Memphis. We’ll soon be ‘virtually crime free.’
President Donald Trump came to Memphis to declare victory over crime. Two Friday night shootings were a reminder that work still remains. Trump visits Memphis to talk Task Force US to hold off striking Iranian power plants, Trump says in MemphisRelated content:
Tennessee Dems call for gas sales tax holiday
With the war in Iran ongoing and inflation still slightly higher than the Fed’s 2% goal, Tennesseans need financial relief, state Democrats said.
Comments
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.