Shayan Morshedi, a PhD student at Memorial University originally from Iran, anxiously awaited updates as the United States and Israel carried out attacks on Iran. He quickly messaged his family and friends after the initial strikes, anticipating internet shutdowns. Morshedi, who connects with anonymous Iranians through Telegram, expressed conflicting emotions following the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the attacks. He mentioned feeling a mix of happiness and sadness, mourning the lives lost and expressing anger over the situation.
According to activists, a significant number of individuals have lost their lives in Iran’s violent response to widespread protests that began in December. Morshedi criticized Khamenei’s actions, particularly targeting young people and students, and hoped for accountability for the regime’s actions. While acknowledging Khamenei’s death, he remained skeptical about the possibility of significant regime change, highlighting that the regime is rooted in an ideology rather than a single individual.
Morshedi expressed hope for a referendum in Iran to allow the populace to shape the country’s future peacefully. However, he admitted feeling pessimistic due to the continued existence of the regime, which leaves him feeling hopeless and apprehensive about what lies ahead. Meanwhile, across the Middle East, Iran retaliated with strikes against U.S. military bases in countries like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, causing disruptions to regional airports and prompting travel advisories from the Canadian government.
Doha, Qatar, witnessed sirens signaling missile interceptions, with residents like Allison Furlong, a long-term resident in Qatar, describing the unnerving experience of hearing missile defenses in action. Furlong recounted receiving government alerts to seek shelter indoors and expressed reliance on the missile defense system for protection. Despite ongoing missile interceptions, the situation remained tense.