Houston – Iranian Americans gathered in Houston’s Galleria area Sunday afternoon, reacting after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
While some across the country condemned the attack, others described it as a long-awaited turning point for Iran’s future.
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Chants, cheers and calls for change filled the air as hundreds waved the Pahlavi flag — a symbol of opposition to Iran’s Islamic government.
On Saturday, the U.S. and Israel carried out a joint military operation that killed Khamenei. Iranian authorities say more than 200 people were also killed. Three U.S. service members were also killed in military operations.
Amin Safera, who lives in Houston and described himself as a “proud Iranian-American,” said he came out to celebrate.
“This is the best thing ever happened to our nation, to all the Iranians, and to the whole world because if this regime is gone, all the terrorists are going to be gone,” said Safera.
Arshia Kian, said he came to the United States ten years ago as an honor student. He said he is a direct victim of the Islamic regime.
“It was a terrible situation,” Kian said. “There is no criticizing the government, there is no freedom of religion, there is no freedom for women showing their hairs, or the basic freedoms that we have in the West.”
Masoud Rezvan, is a longtime activist who said he protested in Tehran in 2009.
He described the regime as violent and oppressive.
“They are very brutal, we have a massacre in Iran and you know, I’m so happy after 47 years we are close to freedom for Iran, to democracy for Iran,” Rezvan said. “And hopefully we can get rid of the Islamic regime.”
He told KPRC 2 he has not been back to Iran since he left 13 years ago.
“Since I’ve been in the U.S., I organized the protests. I couldn’t go back to Iran because they’re going to kill me. I’m not safe over there,” Rezvan said.
Still, he said now he sees hope.
“We need a democratic freedom. We need the democratic government,” Rezvan said. “We should choose people by ourselves.”
Ima Moradi, who has lived in Houston for nearly 35 years, said she remembers an oppressive life for women under the regime.
“We couldn’t choose what to say, what to wear, who to marry, anything. No freedom,” Moradi said.
The attack has prompted protests and rallies across the country, reflecting deep divisions within the Iranian diaspora.
At least three U.S. service members were killed in military operations.