Trader in Tripura Anxious as Conflict Threatens Family in Iran

Iranian Trader in Tripura Watches Two Homelands in Crisis

As geopolitical tensions escalate in the Middle East and Central Asia, a young trader selling saffron and dry fruits at a fair in Agartala, Tripura, finds himself deeply worried about the safety of his family members across two countries.

Twenty-four-year-old Pervez Ali Aman, an Iranian trader participating in the Ocean World Carnival in Agartala, has been struggling to focus on work as news of military actions and regional instability unfolds. While arranging jars of saffron and cardamom at his stall, he says the ongoing conflict has left him anxious and emotionally drained.

Aman’s father’s family lives in Tehran, Iran, where tensions have surged following recent military developments involving the United States and Israel and subsequent retaliation from Iran. The situation has raised fears among families with relatives still living in the region.

“My brothers and their families are in Tehran,” Aman explained, noting that the uncertainty has made it difficult to stay calm while being thousands of kilometres away.

Personal Ties to Afghanistan Add to Anxiety

The concern does not stop with Iran. Aman’s mother’s family is from Afghanistan, where regional instability and tensions along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border have also been making headlines.

For Aman, these events are not distant geopolitical developments but deeply personal matters affecting both sides of his family.

“I have worries on both sides,” he said, referring to the challenges faced by relatives in both Iran and Afghanistan.

Central Asian Traders Travel Across India for Winter Fairs

Aman is part of a group of traders from Iran and Central Asia who travel across India during the winter fair season. These traders typically sell saffron, dry fruits, spices, traditional jewellery, and handicrafts at exhibitions and cultural fairs.

Their annual trade route includes major exhibition venues such as Pragati Maidan in Delhi as well as expos and fairs in cities like Lucknow, Pune, Kolkata, and Agartala.

For the past two years, Aman has been travelling through these events, introducing visitors to products sourced from Iran and neighbouring regions.

Business Continues Despite Growing Uncertainty

Although the fair in Agartala continues to attract visitors interested in international products and cultural goods, traders like Aman are finding it difficult to separate business from personal worries.

Many foreign traders attending such fairs maintain close communication with their families through phone calls and messaging apps, often checking for updates several times a day.

With tensions rising in multiple regions connected to his family, Aman says his primary

concern is the safety of his loved ones.

For now, he continues selling saffron and dry fruits to customers at the fair while closely following news from Iran and Afghanistan, hoping the situation stabilizes soon.