Reza Khaleghian, 70, erupted through the door of Naab Cafe in West Los Angeles on Saturday morning, February 28, 2026, shouting news in Farsi of the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following a joint military strike by the United States and Israel. The announcement, later confirmed by President Donald Trump, ignited celebrations among many in the city’s Iranian American community.
The Greater Los Angeles area, home to the largest concentration of people of Iranian descent outside Iran, has long served as a center for Iranian exiles since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. By 2019, more than half of Iranian immigrants to the U.S. Resided in California, with approximately 140,000 in Los Angeles County alone, according to the Migration Policy Institute. This concentration has led to the area being nicknamed “Tehrangeles.”
The reaction to the strikes, however, was far from uniform. While celebrations erupted on Westwood Boulevard, a central artery lined with Iranian businesses, restaurants and cultural establishments, protests also materialized outside Los Angeles City Hall denouncing the war and warning of potential devastation across the Middle East. These dueling demonstrations highlighted a deep schism within the Iranian diaspora.
For some, the military action offered a glimmer of hope for regime change in Iran. Beha Pangrazio, 35, who emigrated from Tehran ten years prior, celebrated with her family in Westwood, expressing hope for “a glorious future for Iran” and the potential return of the shah. This sentiment was echoed by crowds who waved flags symbolizing Iran’s former monarchy.
California is home to an estimated 375,000 people of Iranian origin, but opinions regarding the U.S. War on Iran are sharply divided. The events of February 28th were described as a “day of history, joy, and anxiety” for the community. The outpouring of support for the strikes was visible, with crowds filling Westwood Boulevard not in protest, but in celebration, dancing in the streets.
The complex emotions within the diaspora stem from varied experiences and perspectives. Many families carry stories of warfare and immigration, but their interpretations of the current conflict differ significantly. While some families harbor hopes for a new government, others fear the consequences of further military intervention.
As of March 18, 2026, the situation remains fluid, with ongoing protests both in support of and opposition to the war. The U.S. Administration has not yet responded to calls for de-escalation, and the future of the conflict, and its impact on the Iranian diaspora, remains uncertain.
Leave a Reply