FRESNO, Calif. \u2013 Shabnam Pooya grew up in Iran but left for Europe and the U.S. as a young adult in order to pursue education and opportunity \u2014 things she said were limited for women under the oppressive and violent regime of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.<\/p>\n
But he was killed earlier this month in a series of airstrikes by U.S. and Israeli military forces.<\/p>\n
Those strikes kicked off a conflict that has stretched for more than a week and has expanded to include multiple countries throughout the Middle East. At the same time, Iranian Americans in the San Joaquin Valley say they have hope and enthusiasm about the future of their home country despite the toll it has taken on civilians.<\/p>\n
Pooya, who is now a nutrition professor at Fresno State, says she doesn\u2019t support war, but does support intervention.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor millions of Iranians, this is not just seen as a typical war. This is seen as a rescue mission,\u201d she said. \u201cFor 47 years, the Iranian people have been held hostage by this regime that has suppressed every single voice and invested national wealth into the act of terrorism instead of its own citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n
She watched in horror earlier this winter as the Khamenei regime cracked down violently by killing thousands of Iranians who had taken to the streets to protest living conditions in the country<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIn January and during the previous protests, we saw unarmed civilians shot in the street for demanding basic human rights like freedom of speech, dignity and economic fairness,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s National Security Council estimated at the time that 3,117 people had been killed, including hundreds of security forces. However, some news outlets and human rights groups estimate the toll could have reached 37,000<\/a> or higher.<\/p>\n Shortly after, President Donald Trump took to the social media platform Truth Social to decry these \u201csenseless killings\u201d and to promise Iran that \u201chelp is on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n Now that he\u2019s made good on that promise, the U.S. has been divided in its response.<\/p>\n Most public support for the war appears to fall along political lines \u2014 with conservatives largely supporting the war and progressives opposing it \u2014 and an attempt by Congressional Democrats to limit Trump\u2019s power in Iran narrowly failed last week<\/a>.<\/p>\n Elected leaders in the San Joaquin Valley have also weighed in on the conflict. Fresno area Congressman Jim Costa called for a briefing to better understand Trump\u2019s strategy. Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and City Councilmember Mike Karbassi referred to the conflict as an opportunity for Iran to gain new leadership.<\/p>\n Since the attacks began on Feb. 28, Fresno has also been the site of protests about the conflict as well as a candlelight vigil to honor the seven American soldiers who have died so far.<\/p>\n Could more civilians be at risk?<\/p>\n Dr. Mehdi Ghajar is an ophthalmologist in Fresno. He believes the potential for change in Iran has so far outweighed the costs of the conflict.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is absolutely what we’ve been begging for,\u201d he wrote in a text message. He also previously spoke at length about the issue on KVPR\u2019s Central Valley Daily podcast.<\/a><\/p>\n Ghajar was born in Iran, but his family left for the U.S. when he was a young child in order to avoid mandatory military service for his older brother. He\u2019s lived in Fresno for 17 years.<\/p>\n As optimistic as he is for regime change, he understands this conflict is not without risks to civilians \u2014 including family members and friends still living in Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cDo I have concern for my loved ones? Absolutely,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n So far, Iran\u2019s United Nations ambassador estimates more than 1,300 civilians have been killed <\/a>since the U.S. and Israel began their attacks last week.<\/p>\n