Parsi

MORGANTOWN — The war between U.S.-Israel and Iran that broke out over the weekend has sparked reaction from the Iranian diaspora, people who are calling for peace and protection of civilians, as many Iranians, including children, have been killed or displaced by military action.

“It’s hard to say what is happening, because both the U.S. government and the Iranian government are not really forthcoming with what’s actually happening there. I mean, my big concern is making sure that civilian lives are protected,” said West Virginia Congressional candidate Ace Parsi, of Morgantown.

Parsi, who fled the authoritarian regime and immigrated to the United States as a child, noted what it was like being a child in Iran when there were bombings.

“I remember what it was like for our parents to worry about our safety,” Parsi said. “It’s really, really troubling to me that we need to take responsibility for that.”

Early Sunday, the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed by U.S.-Israeli strikes, leaving a power vacuum in Iranian politics. Parsi, however, notes that he is hopeful that Iranians will be able to move forward into a better future and system of government.

“Because I really care about the question of who we are going to be as a country and as a government,” Parsi said. “So that’s my greater concern here. My hope is that the Iranian people will somehow come out of this having created a stable, fair democracy. That’s my hope, my sincere hope.”