For Mojdeh and her husband, the question of US intervention in Iran is personal. In early January, they travelled from their home in Washington, DC to Tehran to visit family, expecting a short, routine trip. Instead, protests spread, flights were cancelled, and they found themselves stranded in a city that no longer felt predictable.
Life was on pause, Mojdeh said, especially at night, when the internet and even phone networks went dark. They did not plan to protest, but on the nights of 7 and 8 January, it was impossible to remain uninvolved. As they stepped outside one evening to find crowds filling the streets, it felt like people had occupied Tehran.
Protests erupted across Iran just before the new year, driven by anger over economic hardship and a collapsing currency. Days later, security forces responded with deadly force, leading to an estimated death toll that remains difficult to verify.
US President Donald Trump has voiced support for Iranian protesters. Although the couple understands the desperation for intervention, they worry about the risks of mistaking destruction for salvation.
Protesters continue to express their demands for dignity, economic security, and freedom. Some Iranians, however, fear that intervention could hurt their loved ones under the regime. As hundreds of thousands protest to demand change, the question of foreign involvement looms large, fueling a complex and urgent debate about the future of Iran.
Life was on pause, Mojdeh said, especially at night, when the internet and even phone networks went dark. They did not plan to protest, but on the nights of 7 and 8 January, it was impossible to remain uninvolved. As they stepped outside one evening to find crowds filling the streets, it felt like people had occupied Tehran.
Protests erupted across Iran just before the new year, driven by anger over economic hardship and a collapsing currency. Days later, security forces responded with deadly force, leading to an estimated death toll that remains difficult to verify.
US President Donald Trump has voiced support for Iranian protesters. Although the couple understands the desperation for intervention, they worry about the risks of mistaking destruction for salvation.
Protesters continue to express their demands for dignity, economic security, and freedom. Some Iranians, however, fear that intervention could hurt their loved ones under the regime. As hundreds of thousands protest to demand change, the question of foreign involvement looms large, fueling a complex and urgent debate about the future of Iran.
