My mother narrowly escaped a war between Israel and Iran after missing her flight out of Tehran. The conflict, which saw U.S. bombardments of nuclear sites like Fordow and Natanz, lasted 12 days. Meanwhile, I waited anxiously in Los Angeles, a city tense under Trump’s immigration crackdown, torn between our Iranian roots and American citizenship.
War drums are echoing once more in the Middle East. With a second U.S. aircraft carrier now in the Persian Gulf, Trump’s intentions are clear: intervene in Iran’s internal strife under the guise of aiding protesters, justifying chaos with the rhetoric of freedom. The desperation leads some Iranians to favor this foreign intervention, preferring hope over despair.
As Iranians in the U.S., we live caught between autocracies, witnessing the merging forces of our two countries’ brutal regimes. Parallels in violence—from unmarked vans in American cities to masked agents in Iran—are stark reminders of potential futures.
Yet, Iran also offers lessons in activism. Movements like “Woman, Life, Freedom” achieved change through grassroots efforts, not external interference. Far from an isolated “Islamic Hermit Kingdom,” Iran remains connected through its diaspora, fostering cultural exchanges despite political tensions. In turn, Iranian-Americans understand firsthand how power consolidates through foreign conflicts. The war last summer epitomized decades of confrontation, a grim cycle that need not continue. The path to peace was once glimpsed during Obama’s era, built by peoples yearning for diplomacy over division. Now, as history teeters on repetition, we face it yet again as a tragic farce.