As a ceasefire holds over the recent escalation of violence in the Middle East, Philadelphia residents connected to Iran and Israel find themselves grappling with a complex mix of fear and cautious hope.
The short-lived conflict began with Israeli military strikes on Iran on June 13, igniting a series of retaliatory attacks and escalations. According to the Iranian Health Ministry, 627 Iranians have lost their lives, while Israeli officials report 28 fatalities in Israel. The situation intensified when the United States entered the fray by bombing Iranian nuclear sites on June 21, leading to missile strikes by Iran targeting a U.S. airbase in Qatar, most of which were intercepted, resulting in no casualties.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently broke his silence, characterizing the U.S. bombing as a significant affront, calling it a “slap to America’s face.”
In Philadelphia, community leaders are responding with mobilization; a protest against U.S. involvement is scheduled for Saturday at City Hall, where organizers anticipate a turnout of “hundreds.”
Sanaz Yaghmai, an Iranian descendant and president of the organization Philly Iranians, candidly shared the anxiety that ensued when aware of the Israeli strikes unfolding.
“My dad, he lives in Dubai, but he also visits Iran a lot,” Yaghmai recounted, her face reflecting the weight of her emotions. “He was in Tehran at that time. It was obviously deeply shocking and completely unexpected.”
Despite the tenuous ceasefire in effect, Yaghmai remains skeptical and expressed a profound distrust for the governments involved in the conflict.
“The Iranian people’s number-one enemy has always been the Islamic Republic,” she remarked, worrying that the regime may heighten its brutal measures, including executions of political prisoners.
Nonetheless, she retains faith in the resilience of the Iranian populace, underscoring the communal support they offer to one another through their mourning and anger.
“The Iranian people continue to remain resilient and hold each other through their grief, their rage, and then probably extreme exhaustion at this point,” Yaghmai noted.
Hosein Maleki, another Iranian-born resident and a teacher at Rutgers University, resonates with Yaghmai’s concerns about the Iranian government, although he initially welcomed the Israeli strikes.
“To be honest, I got quite happy when I saw generals are being targeted,” Maleki said. “But after that, I started getting worried about how precise they’re going to hit those targets — is it going to be a long war?”
Maleki carries memories of the Iran-Iraq war from his childhood in the southern city of Ahvaz, recalling the panic and devastation that accompanied such conflicts.
“The regime doesn’t have a good history of respecting human rights or due process,” he cautioned, echoing Yaghmai’s fears about ongoing executions under the current regime.
In contrast, members of the Philadelphia Israeli community are expressing concern for their family and friends living in Israel.
Amir Shoham, an Israeli-born professor at Temple University, articulated his personal distress over the constant fear for his loved ones’ safety.
“I see my family going to the bunker all the time, to the shelters,” Shoham said. “I’m always afraid something will happen to my parents, to my sister, to my extended family, to my friends. It becomes very personal.”
Shoham maintained that Israel acted out of necessity, as he believes the Islamic Republic’s stated goals represent a clear existential threat.
“This was a, I think, a big victory and hopefully it would change the Middle East for the better because most Israelis just want to live in peace,” he stated optimistically.
He further expressed hope for a renewed diplomatic relationship between Israel and Iran, recalling a time before the Islamic Revolution when the nations shared amicable ties.
“We were good friends, you had daily flights from Tehran to Tel Aviv,” Shoham said. “I hope they will topple the Islamic regime; that would be the optimal outcome.”
Supporting this view, Jason Holtzman from the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia underlined the notion of hope as a fundamental principle within Jewish culture.
“Seeing what’s happened over the past two weeks, as well as the United States getting involved in really hitting those nuclear facilities, setting them back years, I do believe that there’s hope,” he affirmed.
However, the effectiveness of U.S. strikes against Iranian nuclear sites remains under scrutiny. While President Donald Trump characterized the initial assault as a thorough “obliteration”, subsequent intelligence assessments hinted that the attacks only delayed Iran’s nuclear progress by a matter of months.
image source from：whyy
