Iranians in Perth have anxiety for loved ones but also has ‘rejoicing’ that attacks launched on regime

For many in Perth’s Iranian community, news of the United States’ attacks on their homeland was a source of joy — such is their hatred of the oppressive regime there. There was also anxiety and concern for loved ones and civilian casualties. Ava, 20, who didn’t want her surname used to protect her extended family, said she welcomed the dramatic developments. “We’ve been hoping the US would do something for the last few months — 40,000 protesters fighting against the regime were killed,” she said. “My whole family is back over there. It’s only my parents, my little brother and I in Australia. “I got a phone call from my uncle, he said he heard something from his apartment, he said it was bigger than anything he’d heard recently.” “People are rejoicing, they want the dictatorship overthrown. “Even here in Perth, my community has been trying to draw attention to what’s happening under the current regime … We’ve held protests outside Parliament, Forrest Chase – my people wanted change.” A member of the Iranian Association of WA, who also didn’t want his name used, told The Sunday Times he was worried about his family. “I just got off the phone from my mother, no more than 5 minutes ago” he said. “It’s scary, but we’ve been in war before… we just don’t want our family to go through this again. “I worry about my family, about the destruction of the country… I feel far away.”