More than half a million people of Iranian origin live in the United States, including nearly 300,000 in California. Between cautious hope for the future and deep concern for loved ones who remain in their homeland, the Iranian-American community in Los Angeles has been watching closely as events unfold in their homeland.

Los Angeles

In Los Angeles, home to a large Iranian-American population, community members are reacting with a mix of hope and anxiety to recent U.S. strikes on Iran. Many residents, such as artist Giti Zehag and grocery store owner Mohammad Ghaffari, express sadness over the situation in Iran and concern for the well-being of ordinary people caught in the conflict.

Activists like Roozbeh Farhanipour, who fled Iran after facing persecution, oppose both the current regime and foreign military intervention. The community is united in its desire for change in Iran but remains wary of the potential for increased instability and suffering resulting from external conflict.

Iranian community in California’s ‘Tehrangeles’ reacts to U.S. strikes

It's an emblematic place for the Iranian community in the United States, the Persian Square and the Westwood neighborhood affectionately known as Tehrangeles, where Tehran meets Los Angeles with its Iranian restaurants, shops and bookstores. Here is the gallery of Giti Zehag. In the paintings of this Iranian-American artist who left her homeland over two decades ago, a reflection of today's world. She holds her country of origin responsible for the current situation. Why is this war? It's for what? Getting our land? No, just it's for nuclear bomb. Who wants to have nuclear bomb? The people have right in their country? No, the government wants, but the people doesn't want. Nearby is this grocery store with its products that bring joy to the Iranian community of Los Angeles. Its owner, Mohammad Ghaffari, left Iran in 1974. The situation in his native country saddens him enormously. I'm so unhappy, so sad and I'm crying because of people. People. People, they don't know what to do in Iran and in Israel. Yeah. We had the best country before the revolution. Everybody lived well, but right now they are poor, they are running everywhere and they have nothing. Among Mohammad Ghaffari's neighbors is Roozbeh Farhanipour. He's one of the leaders of the 1999 student demonstrations who sought asylum in the United States after being sentenced to death. But despite his hatred of the Mullah regime, he disapproves of foreign intervention to bring it down. I was against the war always. I continue to be against the war and also continue to fight against the Islamic Republic. We are not conflict. I don't believe enemy of my enemy is necessarily going to be my friend. Sometimes at the end they become bigger enemies. Israel should have a right to defend themselves against the Islamic Republic, but defending, that's something different than attacking. The Iranian diaspora here in Los Angeles watches the developments in the Middle East with great concern. They face a difficult contradiction, wanting the downfall of the oppressive regime they fought against while fearing their homeland could turn into chaos.

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