The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the latent vulnerabilities inherent in urban systems, necessitating a paradigm shift in urban planning. This research seeks to delineate the resilience trajectories of Tehran’s neighborhoods during both pandemic and post-pandemic eras, while examining spatial heterogeneities across geographical clusters. Utilizing an exploratory–explanatory mixed-methods framework, the study synthesized data from secondary sources, a survey of 245 participants across 15 neighborhoods, and semi-structured interviews with 22 key stakeholders, including residents and urban specialists. Quantitative rigor was ensured through factor analysis, ANOVA, and Tukey’s post-hoc tests, complemented by qualitative thematic analysis.

Empirical results indicate that Tehran’s average neighborhood resilience during the pandemic stood at 2.83 out of 5, signifying a moderate-to-low threshold. A profound spatial divide was observed between the northern (3.31) and southern (2.50) clusters, confirming a systemic pattern of spatial dualism within the city. Notably, the institutional-managerial dimension, despite exerting the most significant explanatory power (21.7%), emerged as the most critical bottleneck due to its low score. Qualitatively, “crisis management” and “local social networks” were identified as pivotal determinants.

Post-pandemic assessments showed an incremental rise in mean resilience to 3.18, yet spatial inequities remained entrenched. The findings demonstrate that neighborhood resilience is a spatially embedded phenomenon inextricably linked to local governance quality. Consequently, bolstering resilience requires fortifying institutional frameworks and mitigating spatial disparities. This study advocates for the prioritization of spatial justice to facilitate equitable resilience during future exigencies. Embracing neighborhood-centric crisis management is essential for fostering long-term urban sustainability.

Keywords: Urban neighborhood resilience, COVID-19 pandemic, spatial inequality, post-pandemic.