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As the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies, members of the Iranian-Canadian community in Toronto say they are feeling mixed emotions, many worried about loved ones back home and some hopeful for what they say is much-needed change in Iran.
Israel first launched strikes on Iran’s capital Tehran in the early hours of Friday in what it said was an attack targeting Iran’s nuclear and energy sites to prevent the country from building a nuclear weapon.
In retaliation, Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles against Israel, with explosions rocking the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
On Tuesday, according to The Associated Press, residents of Tehran, Iran’s capital, were seen leaving the city. Witnesses said strong explosions rocked buildings in western and eastern parts of Tehran on Tuesday evening. On the roads out of Tehran to the west, traffic stood bumper to bumper, and long lines also could be seen at gas stations.
Sam Fayaz, owner of Khorak Supermarket in North York, said he has seen a noticeable shift in the mood of his customers as tensions back home have escalated. Toronto has one of the largest diasporas of Iranians outside of Iran.
“They have a lot of family back home that they’re concerned about. Everyone’s just praying for the best and praying for peace,” Fayaz said.
Fayaz said his parents fled the Iran-Iraq war in the late 1980s. He said the situation was frightening then and it is frightening now.
“I actually lived through that personally myself as I was four at the time when the war was happening. And those memories, they get instilled into your brain,” Fayaz said.
Fayaz said nobody supports war but the Islamic Republic of Iran “needs to go” because it is so oppressive.
“Nobody is suffering more than the innocent civilians,” he said.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump urged the immediate evacuation of Tehran. On Tuesday, he urged Iran to surrender unconditionally.
‘We are worried, to be honest,’ resident says
Effie Mousavi, a customer at Khorak Supermarket, said the news is distressing and nobody knows what will happen. As an immigrant, she said she feels conflicted because the war may mean the government will change but it also means that people are in danger.
“I’m not feeling good. I’m always following the news and it’s not good. We are just waiting… This is war,” she said. “We are worried, to be honest.”
Mousavi said a friend who went to visit Iran has had to flee to Turkey. “It’s a lot of stress,” she said.
Mehrdad Ariannejad, CEO of Tirgan Organization, a charity promoting cross-cultural dialogue between Iranian-Canadians and the broader community, said he is thinking about Israel and Iran and has mixed feelings. Tirgan Organization holds an Iranian festival every two years.
“I’m very happy that the high-ranking generals and officials in Iran are killed by the Israeli military. They have killed many Iranians in uprisings. And on the other hand, I’m sad for civilian casualties both in Israel and Iran,” Ariannejad said.
There are approximately 3,500 Canadians in Iran and another 6,700 in Israel, according to Global Affairs Canada.
The count is based on the voluntary registration of around 80,000 Canadians in the Middle East and doesn’t fully reflect how many of them may need help getting out, the department said in a statement.
Canadians warned not to travel to Iran, Israel
Global Affairs Canada added that it hasn’t received any reports of Canadian injuries or deaths in the conflict.
The department is warning against all travel to Iran, Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and advising Canadians in the Middle East to monitor the news and follow the instructions of local authorities.
Military strikes pose “serious risks” across the region, the department said, adding that the situation may result in disruptions to transportation and air travel, as well as border closures.