The Iranian community in Calgary is reacting with shock and joy to the news of the major attacks on Iran and the potential for change.
Iranians in Calgary, like Eghbal Kayadan, who has been living in Canada as an exile for more than three decades, woke up on Saturday to news of major attacks on their home country by the United States and Israel.
“The reaction actually, because 40 days ago, the Islamic Republic killed more than 30,000 people in the streets during the peaceful protest in Iran. So, people became very angry and protesting since that time,” he told CityNews.
“So, people were somehow hopeless, and we were waiting for the U.S. or Israel to help us.”
The joint U.S.-Israel operation, which officials say was planned for months, took place Saturday during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan and at the start of the Iranian workweek. President Donald Trump justified the action by claiming Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to reach the United States.
Meanwhile, Kayadan says learning about the massive operation is welcome news.
“We’re so happy so far. We got the news; we got the video from Iran, people are dancing in the streets and celebrating. There’s emotion and happiness,” he said.
Kayadan grew up in Iran and says he was jailed by the regime for being a student protester and forced to leave. He says he’s lived in exile in Canada for more than three decades.
“I’m hoping to go back there, and I don’t know what kind of emotion I’ll express when I arrive in the airport of one of the cities in Iran. I can’t imagine it,” he said tearfully.
“So, I was looking for that for 36 years to go back to see my homeland and see my family, and see the people who are fighting for 48 years against the Islamic Republic.“
The Islamic Republic said more than 3,000 people died in the crackdowns, but U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in counting deaths during previous rounds of unrest in Iran, put the death toll at over 7,000. Outrage over the killings in turn sparked protests worldwide calling for regime change.
Just two weeks ago, Iranian-Canadians held large rallies across the country, and Kaydan and Armin Zarringhalam, a filmmaker, organized the event in Calgary.
“As a Canadian, I want to be able to share for those freedoms and rights that we have here for my fellow people in Iran — something that they truly deserve, something that they used to have,” Zarringhalam said.
While filming this interview, the family saw initial reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, had been killed, and they had a strong emotional reaction.
“After 47 years of chaos that these guys created in Iran, in the Middle East and around the world, this is the beginning of a new era in Iran, in the Middle East and the whole world. This is a celebration day,” said Zarringhalam’s mother.
The Government of Canada has issued an advisory for Canadians to avoid all travel to Iran due to ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, as well as the risk of civil unrest.
And Canadians in the wider conflict region are asked to register with Global Affairs Canada.
With files from The Canadian Press