The United States has been drawn into a war with Iran, a move that has left Iranian dissidents in the country feeling increasingly vulnerable. Iranian opposition party founder Roozbeh Farahanipour, who has lived in exile in the US since 2000, is among those who have faced threats and intimidation. Despite being 12,200 kilometres away from his native Iran, Farahanipour has had his car tyres slashed and a restaurant vandalised, incidents he believes were linked to his activism. The 54-year-old businessman and activist has spoken out against Iran's violent crackdown on protesters, and is now worried that the war will compromise his safety in the US. "You can sleep with one eye open, one eye closed, and you feel like you are not safe," he said, echoing the sentiments of many Iranian dissidents.
The US has a significant Iranian diaspora community, with over 413,000 people of Iranian descent living in the country. However, the war has created new uncertainties for these individuals, who fear hostile attitudes towards immigrants and Iranian Americans. Scholars like Negar Razavi, a Princeton University expert on Iran and Persian Gulf Studies, have described the sentiment among dissidents as one of "dual fear". "There is a sense that nowhere is really safe for them," Razavi said. "They're neither safe here, nor are they safe back home."
The US administration's recent deportation of Iranians to Iran, despite concerns they may face persecution, has added to the sense of unease. The Trump administration deported a group of Iranians in January, following two previous flights in September and December that included over 170 people. "The fact that the Trump administration has deported over a hundred Iranians has made a lot of people scared," Razavi said.
The US war in Iran poses a significant threat to the safety and security of Iranian dissidents living in the country. The deportation of Iranians to a country where they may face persecution only adds to the fears of those who have already been forced to flee their homeland. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the US government will protect the rights and safety of Iranian Americans and immigrants. The international community must also take note of the humanitarian implications of this conflict and work towards finding a peaceful resolution.
