Divided Loyalties: Six Months Into the War, Iranian Americans Grapple With the Impact of US and Israeli Strikes

Six months after the United States and Israel launched the initial strikes on Iran, the physical, financial, and emotional fallout of the conflict has spread from Tehran across the globe. This includes the extensive Iranian community in the US, which remains heavily fractured regarding how the war began and what it has ultimately achieved.

The Iranian diaspora encompasses multiple generations and waves of exile, ranging from individuals who departed following the 1979 revolution to recent arrivals escaping crackdowns and protest movements. These diverse backgrounds have contributed to sharply contrasting reactions to the ongoing conflict. Certain Iranian Americans, particularly among anti-regime activists, initially welcomed the US and Israeli military actions, viewing them as a potential avenue to dismantle the Islamic Republic’s rule. Conversely, others expressed deep concern over the human toll of military escalation, warning that civilian suffering and regional instability could outweigh any political gains.

At the outset of the war, CNN spoke with Arezo Rashidian, a longtime monarchist activist aligned with Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah who helped coordinate protests in the Los Angeles area. At the time, Rashidian supported military action against the Islamic Republic, expressing hope that the United States and Israel would execute targeted attacks to topple the regime. Six months later, Rashidian notes that this optimism has largely dissolved into disappointment among many anti-regime activists.

"We really wanted regime change... it’s been six months now, and it didn’t get to that point," she stated, reflecting a widespread mood of frustration and uncertainty. Rashidian added that her family members and contacts inside Iran have reported a renewed climate of fear since the peak of the fighting.

According to Rashidian, citizens are increasingly hesitant to discuss politics or their participation in January’s protests due to fears of surveillance and retaliation. Meanwhile, reports have highlighted a renewed enforcement of Iran’s mandatory hijab laws, alongside accounts of arrests, executions, and broader security crackdowns—claims that cannot be independently verified.

Despite her disillusionment, Rashidian maintains her support for stricter economic sanctions against Tehran. Recently, Washington threatened additional measures, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicating plans to target networks utilized by Iran to evade existing restrictions. However, the anticipated rollout of new policies left many supporters underwhelmed as Washington focused primarily on expanding the enforcement of current regulations.

In response, Iran has warned of reciprocal measures, threatening expanded strikes on regional oil producers and European nations, as well as hinting at the potential weaponization of its nuclear program.

For Aria Rostami, a 38-year-old Iranian American museum professional in New York raised in Southern California, the past six months have fundamentally altered his perception of the broader diaspora. He expressed dismay at seeing members of his community celebrate the military intervention on the streets, noting that the conflict has exposed deep internal divisions.

"There was a time where if I met somebody who was Iranian, or I’d hear people speaking Persian on the street, I had a specific feeling about it," he said. "Now it’s changed to suspicion or an uncertainty. I don’t know where their politics are. I don’t know what they believe."

While acknowledging that many war supporters are now disappointed, Rostami believes they were misled regarding the achievable outcomes of military intervention. Nevertheless, he rejects simple caricatures of those who backed the strikes, emphasizing that their positions stem from genuine pain and perceived manipulation.