AUSTIN, Texas — As tensions between the United States and Iran escalate, two Austin residents with family ties to Iran are reacting to President Donald Trump’s recent rhetoric and the possibility of further conflict.

Shahriar Ghaffari, the owner of Caspian Grill in North Austin, immigrated to the United States from Iran in 1977 and said he still has family in the country. He described his connection to the country, saying, “My family is not my brother or sister or anybody. My family is all of Iran.”

Ghaffari said, “Iranian people have always been peaceful. They have always aimed high. They have never wanted to hurt other countries or other people.” He also voiced support for U.S. actions toward Iran’s current government, comparing it to a disease that must be treated. “This is truly like a cancer. If you treat cancer, you know you have to go after the main, and then you have to go after all the tentacles,” he said.

The comments come as Trump warned that a “whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, Trump told reporters the Iranians were negotiating in good faith. But he also said, “They’re going to have no bridges. They’re going to have no power plants. Stone ages.”

Asked what he felt when he heard that, Ghaffari said, “First, anecdote is bombing us to the stone ages puts us in a better situation.” He added, “I’m not 100 percent sure if I believe everything he is saying.”

Zainab Haider, an Austin for Palestine coordinator who grew up in Iran and now lives in Austin, said she is worried about family members still in Iran. “There’s a lot of fear. I worry about the family that I have,” Haider said. She said her relatives have tried to reassure her. “When I talk to family, they say, don’t worry about us. We’re not going to go hide.”

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Haider said the situation is painful because of her ties to both countries. “These are two countries that I’ve lived in, and I care about. This is not a good situation,” she said.

Texas lawmakers also weighed in. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy’s office did not respond to a request for comment. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, condemned Trump’s recent statements in a social media post, saying, “This might be Donald Trump’s most dangerous and unhinged statement yet.” The congressman also called Tuesday a “scary day for people all over the world.”

Texas Sen. John Cornyn’s office said the senator was traveling and not able to provide a statement at the time of the story airing.

In a statement, Austin-area U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett accused the president of “committing war crimes” and warned further conflict would result in the loss of American lives.

Following his incoherent, profanity-laced Easter message, bizarre comments with the Easter Bunny on Sunday, and now a statement about wiping out an entire civilization, Trump clearly lacks the stability to govern.Trump committing war crimes by destroying Iranians—bombing them “back to the Stone Ages”–will only lead to the loss of American lives and endanger our families for years to come.GOP who have empowered him must show restraint immediately!

Ghaffari said he has been in contact with family in Iran and worries about what damage to infrastructure could mean for civilians. “I have family in Iran, and I’ve been talking to them, and they all know that if the infrastructure is damaged, people don’t have electricity and water. It’s going to be hell for them,” he said.

He also had a message for Americans concerned about the economic impact of the conflict, including higher gas prices: “Just for a moment, think about the people in Iran.”

Austin for Palestine Coalition is joining other local coalitions in hosting a protest on Wednesday at Republic Square in downtown Austin. The protest will begin at 6 p.m.