A Tehran toy shop owner says she is determined to rebuild her business after a recent explosion destroyed her store, scattering toys across the street and leaving behind shattered memories for local children.
Fariba Akbari, who has spent the last 20 years in the toy business, founded a toy shop with her husband 12 years ago out of love for children and a desire to create a space where kids could play and interact with toys before choosing them.
Over the years, the shop has became a special place for many families, with children often celebrating the moment they found their favorite toys.
"When I was a kid, we were at war [with Iraq]. I used to dream constantly. In my dreams, I'd imagine a city full of toys. I would play with them all and embark on adventures, becoming a champion in those games," Akbari recalled.
But that dream-like world was shattered after a recent Israeli airstrike rocked Tehran.
In the early morning hours, Akbari received a call from the building janitor telling her the shop's windows had been blown out and toys were strewn across the street.
"When I first arrived, I couldn't believe what I saw. I never imagined the explosions would be powerful enough to propel heavy sculptures into the shop. When we originally installed those sculptures, we had deployed a crane and a dozen workers," she said.
The destruction has taken a heavy toll. With security concerns rising, people are shopping less, making it even harder for small businesses to recover, she said.
Despite the challenges, she says her biggest source of strength has come from her customers.
"Now, our biggest motivation comes from our customers. After the incident, customers of all ages showed tremendous sympathy. They shared photos they'd taken here. One particularly touching moment I reflected on for hours was a photo of a customer -- a beautiful girl -- hosting a birthday party here in the midst of the pandemic. Due to lockdown restrictions, she held a small celebration at our shop. I'll never forget her joy here," she said.
For Akbari, the shop is more than just a business. It is a place filled with memories of childhood happiness, where buying a toy once made children feel like they owned the world.
Now, she says that it's time to rebuild the shop with new purpose.
"I believe we shouldn't go back to how things were. This time, we should start from scratch. We must think we had nothing before -- like newborns. With my experience, what can I create now? Let's rebuild! And make it even better this time," she said.
Israel on June 13 launched sustained airstrikes on multiple Iranian sites, including nuclear and military facilities.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the evening of June 24 on his Truth Social platform that Israel and Iran have reached a formal agreement to implement a complete and total ceasefire, marking what he called the end of the "12-Day War."
Tehran toy shop owner vows to rebuild war-shattered dreams for children
Tehran toy shop owner vows to rebuild war-shattered dreams for children
