For months, exiled Iranians have lived with a single, desperate hope: intervention. Now, with news of the supreme leader’s demise echoing across the globe, that hope has ignited into a fierce, complex mix of joy and apprehension.
One pro-democracy activist, who endured five and a half years in Iranian prisons starting at age 18, described a sudden surge of optimism. She recalled the chilling reality of life inside, witnessing the execution of friends and the grim display of their bodies to other prisoners. “The Ayatollah deserved to die like that,” she stated, celebrating the news outside the US embassy.
She wasn’t alone. Days spent protesting in Vauxhall, demanding action from the US administration, culminated in a moment of profound relief. Now, her call is for continued pressure, a relentless push “until every dictator is gone and my country is free.” Her ultimate desire? To return to a liberated Iran.
But the news isn’t universally celebratory. Ahmed Vahdat, a former student who left Iran during the 1979 revolution, received a harrowing call from his brother in Tehran. His family is now sheltering in the basement of their apartment building, enduring “non-stop” bombardment. While welcoming the end of a brutal regime, he acknowledged the pain of seeing his homeland under attack.
Despite the current conflict, a common thread unites many of these exiled Iranians: a belief in the leadership of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of the exiled Shah. They envision him guiding Iran towards a democratic future, a future they’ve long dreamed of.
Sharan Tabari, a former councillor who briefly returned to Iran after the revolution, remembers quickly realizing her mistake. “The regime held Iran hostage for 47 years,” she said, raising a glass of champagne to mark the Ayatollah’s downfall. She spoke of a deep-seated animosity, a “river of blood” separating the government from its people.
Ellie Borhan, founder of the Stage of Freedom activist group, expressed a desire for justice, wishing the former leader had faced a trial for his crimes. Yet, even with that lingering sentiment, she felt a profound sense of liberation. “He is gone, and an era of his crimes has come to an end,” she declared.
Bita, who left Iran with her family in the 1990s, described the current situation as “the beginning of the end.” While relieved by the news, she fears the inevitable retaliation from the Islamic Republic as Iranians take to the streets. She believes this is a crucial moment, but far from the final step towards freedom.
Despite the challenges ahead, Bita remains confident. She believes the intervention from the US and Israel will provide a crucial advantage, but ultimately, it will be the Iranian people who rise up and seize control of their government, following the call of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi when he deems the moment right.
The weight of decades of oppression, the pain of separation, and the fragile hope for a future free from tyranny hang heavy in the air. For these exiled Iranians, the fall of the Ayatollah is not just a political event; it’s a deeply personal turning point, a flicker of light in a long, dark night.
