BURST
For Poran Poregbal, it is a time of great anxiety — and great hope.
The North Vancouver psychotherapist has family in Iran, where the U.S. and Israel have launched airstrikes against the Islamic Republic. As the war continues to widen, it has been difficult to reach her family, although she has received a few short messages.
Like many among the Iranian diaspora in B.C., she is hopeful the war will lead to regime change.
“We tolerate the bombs. We even cheer for the bombs,” she said. “People are more afraid the regime will stay.”
Kei Esmaeilpour, founder of the Civic Association of Iranian Canadians, said many people feel military intervention may be the only way to destroy the regime, as painful and difficult as it may be.
“We know war is complex,” he said. “(But) I think they should be careful where they strike, to avoid care facilities and schools.”
Esmaeilpour said many Iranian Canadians are struggling to get word from loved ones in Iran.
“Everyone is in danger,” whether from airstrikes or from government forces on the ground, he said. “We don’t know what will happen at the end.”
A student at the University of B.C., who asked to remain anonymous to protect family in Iran, said it felt “inhumane” to call for bombing when she was not in the country being bombed.
“At the same time, I’m very skeptical that people won’t die if the Islamic Republic remains in power and continues to kill people,” she said.
The fourth-year student said she struggled to be pro-war — “I am not OK with civilian deaths” — but she felt strongly that to do nothing would mean deaths, too.
“It’s a choice between bad and worse. There is no good option.”
She asked Canadians to be wary of propaganda, and attempt to understand Iran’s history and the oppression that people have experienced under the Islamic Republic.
On Wednesday, the Canadian government announced special measures for Iranian nationals in Canada on work permits, allowing them to extend their stay.
The people Postmedia spoke to said it was too soon to say if Iranians will be fleeing that country, or if Canadians with family in Iran would try to bring their loved ones here.
“I don’t think so,” said Poregbal. “I wish I could go back to support the people there. I think it is actually more hopeful than ever before.”
Iran is the second-highest source country of refugee claims to Canada after India, with 6,600 people submitting asylum requests in 2024.
Both Poregbal and Esmaeilpour cautioned the federal government to carefully vet people coming to Canada because people trying to leave the country could be connected to the Islamic Republic.
Esmaeilpour said he wants to see the Canadian government help to ensure a democratic transition when the war is over.
“This is something Canada and international partners can do,” he said.