When an Iranian American couple observes protests in the U.S. opposing the conflict with Iran, they can’t help but feel a chill, reminiscing about their lives growing up under a regime that dictated their youth.
Operation Epic Fury has sparked widespread criticism from Americans, leading to anti-war demonstrations nationwide.
Behzad Hemmati and Rahil Nazarian were fortunate enough to relocate from Iran to the United States as young adults.
Now, years later, Hemmati, 50, and Nazarian, 42, are witnessing the events unfold from their Southern California residence. To them, this isn’t merely a war; they perceive it as a “rescue mission.”
Hemmati, who was born during the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, recalls being too young to enjoy the “positive aspects” before the 1979 Islamic Revolution toppled Pahlavi’s regime.
Smoke and fire rise following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military installations. (Sasan / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)
“I came here [just because of] my natural personality, I couldn’t bear with the things that [were] happening [in Iran],” Hemmati said.
He recalled his life as a teenager and said, “You want to be yourself, to be free,” but shared that what Western culture considers a “normal” teenage life, wasn’t allowed in Iran.
“You want to dance, you want to hang out with your friends, but we couldn’t … girls and boys [are] always separate,” Hemmati explained. “This is how [the government] control[s] you, this is how [they] break you in pieces and take that beautiful life that you can have [and] take it away from you.”
Nazarian was born during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Her father was a teacher and after the Islamic Revolution, she explained that the Islamic Republic took her family’s home, their land and her father was unable to work.
A demonstrator shouts anti-war slogans while participating in a protest near the White House, Feb. 28, in Washington, D.C. (Probal Rashid/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“After [Ayatollah Ruhollah] Khomeini came and took over, they fired [my father] because they told him, ‘You work during Shah, you don’t deserve this,” Nazarian said.
Murderous regime
In an emotional moment, she recalled her father being brought back and forth between Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) camps until one day, he did not come back.
“They were executing most of his family members,” Nazarian said.
“One day, he went, and they told him, ‘Oh, we have a plan for you, we’re gonna give you back everything we took to you, we’re going to give it back to you,’” Nazarian recalled. “He left home [that day], he never came back.”
Since the initial strikes in Operation Epic Fury that began in the early-morning hours of Feb. 28, the conflict has struck a chord with the American public, leading to backlash against the Trump administration.
Still, when Hemmati and Nazarian see protests against military action, Hemmati told Fox News Digital that they “don’t understand.”
People march in an anti-Iranian regime rally in Los Angeles. (Jonathan Alcorn / AFP via Getty Images)
“People should understand [here], those that they don’t understand,” he said. “People are going on the street and saying no to war, I can tell you 100%, they have no idea.”
The operation has also garnered support from many in the Iranian American community.
Hemmati said protests in favor of U.S. military action in the country have sprung up around Southern California, and that he attends an event almost every weekend. He says this is a way for people to be the voice for people inside Iran who are in favor of the operation.
“[Iranian’s] inside Iran want to show the world — obviously, they can’t do anything because everything is disconnected from Iran — but that’s why we’re going out to be their voice,” Hemmati said.
Family in Iran
Nazarian and Hemmati said they spoke to relatives still living in Iran and despite constant bombardments near their homes, they’re “glad this is happening.”
“No matter what happens, no matter if we lose our house, no matter if the whole house is destroyed, as long as we’re alive to fight back, we’re still grateful and happy,” Hemmati said.
“They were thanking President [Donald] Trump and said, it’s OK, we have to pay the price for freedom,” Nazarian continued.
Hemmati said by targeting specific IRGC locations the operation is “cutting the regime’s bloodlines.”
“They’re targeting those very special places for their government,” Hemmati said. “Once they’re eliminated, then it’s time for people to go out.”
Once able, Nazarian and Hemmati said they’ll be on the first flight to Iran to see family for a long-overdue visit.
“[Our] kids are so thirsty to see their cousins, their family, because I don’t have any family [in the US],” Nazarian said. “I haven’t seen them for nine years [and Hemmati] hasn’t been there for 19 years.”
“[This] is what I’ve been waiting for [for 47 years],” Hemmati said. “Unfortunately, we’re going to lose some lives in this rescue mission … but again, people are saying inside Iran, they’re saying, ‘How many are we gonna lose? … We’re ready to sacrifice again until we get to [freedom].’”
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