Following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, actress Elnaaz Norouzi publicly expressed joy, a sentiment echoed by celebrations breaking out in parts of Iran despite official mourning. Norouzi, a German-Iranian actress who gained prominence in India and is poised to appear alongside Liam Neeson in an upcoming Hollywood film, has been closely monitoring the situation in her homeland.
Reports reaching Norouzi, despite internet restrictions within Iran, describe scenes of public celebration. “The first clips showed people dancing in the streets,” she told the German newspaper Bild. “Despite the explosions, there was a sense of relief. They were laughing and simply happy. There are even videos of schoolchildren thanking Trump for his support.”
Norouzi’s family, residing in Tehran, reportedly prepared for potential attacks and remained confined to their homes. “We were all waiting for it. When Trump said he would help, we knew the attack would happen. Every night, they hoped they would fall asleep and wake up to a country without the mullahs,” she stated to Bild.
Norouzi and her parents fled Iran for Germany when she was eight years old, but maintains close ties to relatives – aunts, cousins, and her grandmother – who remain in Tehran. She described the conditions in the city prior to Khamenei’s death as “catastrophic.”
The actress expressed hope for increased freedoms, particularly for women. Displaying a childhood photograph of herself wearing a hijab while attending school in Tehran, Norouzi stated, “I look forward to the day when a little girl is no longer forced to wear a headscarf to school.”
Norouzi sees the recent events as a pivotal opportunity for change and is looking to Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to galvanize the population. “We hope that Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi will call for an uprising and everyone will grab to the streets. Then we will take back our country!” she said.
According to reports from Ukrainian National News (UNN), Norouzi’s public statement was widely anticipated. The Times of India likewise reported on her reaction, describing her assessment of Khamenei’s death as “the most incredible news.”
