CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – An Iranian American woman who fled the Islamic regime nearly five years ago is sharing her perspective as protests continue across the United States over the recent strike on Iran.
News 12 spoke with the woman, who was born and raised in Iran before moving to the United States nearly five years ago.
She requested to remain anonymous to protect family members who are still living in Iran and could face retaliation.
“I was born and raised in Iran, and I lived almost my entire life there. I went to school. I went to university. I was part of society,” she said. “This is the story of so many Iranians who were forced to leave because you cannot build a life under a dictatorship.”
She kept her camera off during the interview out of concern for her loved ones’ safety.
“What this regime does is they will hunt every Iranian who speaks against them down,” she explained. “They will arrest, they will torture any family members that are in Iran, and it’s not good for their safety.”
As demonstrations continue in parts of the United States opposing the strike, she sees the situation differently.
“This is not a war against Iranian people. This is a rescue mission,” she stated.
She described it as painful to watch Americans protest what she believes many Iranians view as a necessary action.
“It’s very heartbreaking to see people who actually don’t have any idea about what Iranian people went through for the past 47 years,” she said. “They think they have this right to protest against something that is actually good for Iranian people and something that Iranian people are actually happy and thankful to America for.”
After watching videos of recent protests, she pointed out something she found telling.
“I would like you to know that there is not even one single Iranian in those protests, which is very interesting.”
According to her, Iranians both inside and outside the country have been fighting the regime for decades through various uprisings and peaceful demonstrations, but she believes those efforts have not succeeded.
“For the past 47 years, Iranian people have been fighting this regime. Different uprisings, different movements, peaceful protests, anything you name,” she continued. “But it never worked because you cannot talk diplomacy and you cannot get anywhere with peaceful protests with a regime that is a total dictatorship.”
She compared the situation to a violent household.
“Imagine a young couple with a child and one of them is beating the other and the child and basically killing them,” she said. “Do you expect them to stay silent, or do you expect them to ask the neighbors to call the police? This is exactly the situation that Iranian people are living in.”
She argued that diplomacy has failed over multiple U.S. administrations and believes stronger action became inevitable.
“You cannot talk diplomacy or negotiate with a system and a regime who chanted death to America for the past 47 years,” she contended. “All the negotiations just gave more time and more power to this regime.”
She also claimed that anti American sentiment is deeply ingrained in Iran’s education system.
“I went to school there. Little kids chant death to America every single morning in school,” she noted. “That’s how they hate America.”
She believes the regime poses a direct threat to the United States and its future generations.
“We cannot let a regime like this, that is a direct threat to America and Americans, continue what they are doing,” she emphasized.
At the same time, she stressed that Iranians themselves continue to fight for freedom and are not waiting to be rescued.
“Iranian people need to liberate their country themselves, which they are doing,” she said. “They have been fighting for the past 47 years. They will continue fighting. Right now, they are waiting for the right moment.”
Looking ahead, she believes a free Iran would have far reaching global impacts.
“A free Iran will lead to a peaceful Middle East, and a peaceful Middle East will lead to a better world,” she said. “It will end a lot of the chaos that is going on around the world, and it directly affects us in America.”
She added that beyond security concerns, a different future for Iran could open economic opportunities and strengthen international trade.
She also expressed appreciation for recent actions taken by the United States.
“I want everyone to know that Iranian people really appreciate what President Trump did,” she said. “They appreciate the U.S. Army and Israel and all they’re doing.”
She said she believes some Americans oppose the action simply because it was carried out by President Trump, adding that, in her view, many critics have never experienced life under a dictatorship as a woman and do not understand what true oppression feels like.
“I feel like some people, even deep down in their hearts, know that this means freedom for Iran and benefits America, but just because it was done by President Trump, they are against it.”
As a woman who lived under the regime, she spoke at length about the challenges Iranian women face and said it surprises her when women in Western countries defend the ideology of the Islamic government.
“It actually tells me that they never lived one day in their entire life under a dictatorship as a woman, and they don’t know how it feels to be really oppressed,” she said. “That’s why they romanticize what the Islamic regime is doing to people.”
She maintained that while she respects individual faith and freedom of belief, she opposes forcing any ideology on others.
“Everyone is free to practice their faith and believe in whatever they want,” she said. “But nothing should be forced on people. Women should have the right to decide for themselves and to choose the path they want to choose.”
As protests and political debate continue, she said she hopes Americans, especially young people, think carefully about the long-term consequences.
“Dear American youth, I really want young people in America to love this country enough to stand up for it,” she said. “Once this regime is gone, a peaceful Iran and a peaceful Middle East will benefit America.”
News 12 will continue to follow developments surrounding the strike and the ongoing reactions both locally and abroad.
