California Iranian American couple pushes back on anti-war protests in the US

When an Iranian American husband and wife see protests against the war with Iran in the United States, they shudder to remember that they lived and grew up under a regime that “controlled” their young lives.

Since its inception, Operation Epic Rage captured the attention of the American public and inspired anti-war protests across the country.

Behzad Hemmati and Rahil Nazarian had the opportunity to come to America from Iran as young adults.

Decades later, Hemmati, 50, and Nazarian, 42, told Fox News Digital they watched the situation from their new home in Southern California and that, to them, the conflict was not a war but a “rescue mission.”

Born during the reign of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Hemmati remembers being too young to experience “good things” before the Islamic Revolution in 1979 toppled Pahlavi’s reign.

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“I came here [just because of] My natural personality, I couldn’t stand the things that happened [were] it’s happening [in Iran]said Hemmati.

He recalled his life as a teenager and said, “You want to be yourself, to be free,” but shared that what Western culture considers “normal” teenage life is not allowed in Iran.

“You want to dance, you want to hang out with your friends, but we couldn’t… boys and girls [are] Always separate,” Hemmati explained. “That’s how [the government] control[s] you, how is this [they] Tear you apart and take the beautiful life you could have [and] take it from you.”

Nazarian was born during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. His father was a teacher and he explained that after the Islamic Revolution, the Islamic Republic took away his family’s home and land and his father became unable to work.

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A demonstrator chants anti-war slogans while participating in a protest near the White House on February 28 in Washington, D.C. (Probal Rashid/LightRocket via Getty Images)

“Afterwards [Ayatollah Ruhollah] Khomeini came and took over, they fired [my father] Because they told him, ‘You work during the Shah’s reign, you don’t deserve this,’ Nazarian said.

deadly regime

In an emotional moment, he recalled that his father was shuttled between camps of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) until one day he did not return.

“They were executing most of the family members,” Nazarian said.

“One day he went and they told him, ‘Oh, we have a plan for you, we’re going to give you back everything we bought, we’re going to give it back to you,'” Nazarian recalled. “He left home [that day]He never came back.”

Since the first attacks in Operation Epic Rage, which began in the early morning hours of February 28, the conflict has captured the attention of the American public and sparked backlash against the Trump administration.

Yet when Hemmati and Nazarian saw protests against the military action, Hemmati told Fox News Digital they “didn’t understand.”

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People march at an anti-Iran rally in Los Angeles. (Jonathan Alcorn/AFP via Getty Images)

“People should understand that [here]”People are coming out to the streets and saying no to war, I can tell you 100%, they have no idea.”

The operation also received support from the Iranian-American community.

Hemmati said protests in support of the US military intervention in the country have increased in Southern California, and he attends an event almost every weekend. He says this is a way for him to give a voice to people in Iran who are in favor of the operation.

“[Iranian’s] “Those inside Iran want to show the world – of course they can’t do anything because everything is disconnected from Iran – but that’s why we will be their voice,” Hemmati said.

family in iran

Nazarian and Hemmati said they had spoken to relatives still living in Iran and were “glad it happened” despite constant shelling near their homes.

“No matter what happens, even if we lose our home, even if the whole house collapses, as long as we are alive to fight, we are still grateful and happy,” Hemmati said. he said.

“They were thanking the President” [Donald] “Trump said it’s okay, we have to pay the price for freedom,” Nazarian continued.

Hemmati said the operation, which targeted specific IRGC locations, “cut the regime’s blood ties.”

“They are targeting very specific places for their government,” Hemmati said. “Once they’re eliminated, it’s time for people to get out.”

Nazarian and Hemmati said that when they get the opportunity, they will take the first flight to Iran to see their families for a long-overdue visit.

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“[Our] kids They are so thirsty to see their cousins, their families, because I don’t have a family. [in the US]”I haven’t seen them in nine years,” Nazarian said. [and Hemmati] “I wasn’t there for 19 years.”

“[This] this is what i’m waiting for [for 47 years]Hemmati said: “Unfortunately, we will lose some lives in this rescue mission… but still people in Iran are asking, ‘How many will we lose?’ they say. …We are ready to sacrifice again until we reach [freedom].”