Iranians based in Cork are hopeful for a democratic regime

Cork-based Iranians are hopeful that the ongoing situation in the Middle East will ultimately lead to a peaceful transition to a new democratic regime in their homeland.

Over the weekend, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had been in power since 1989, was killed after the United States and Israel launched a large scale attack on Iran.

Mastoureh Fathi, an Iranian lecturer working at University College Cork, told The Echo that she hopes there is a bright new chapter looming on the horizon for Iran as a nation.

“We don’t want any war with the world,” she said.

“At the moment it’s not peaceful, but we want a peaceful transition to a new democratic regime and a new democratic government that is friends of the world. 

"We do not want any terror or to start any war. We are not [an] enemy of any nation or country in the world and we want that message to be clearly translated.”

In recent weeks and months, Iran has been experiencing its most significant and violent upheaval since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Amin Mohammadi, an Iranian man based in Cork, told The Echo he has spoken to friends back home in recent days, many of whom have welcomed the intervention of the United States and Israel in Iran.

“Most of the people, I think they are scared, but already they are as well happy because they are thinking it is close to regime change.”

As to what she hopes happens next for Iran, Ms Fathi added: “I think for many (in Iran) the ultimate goal is the change of the regime. I personally do not support any war in any part of the world.

“What we are seeing at the moment, it is a very complex scenario — that it’s not black and white.

“We should not forget that just a few weeks ago, this dictator regime killed tens of thousands of people on the streets.

“We want the global, the Irish, and the Cork community to remember what happened a few weeks ago at the hands of this dictator regime.”

Mr Mohammadi said he hoped the dawn of a bright new chapter is looming for Iran.

“We don’t have any problem with any country and we want peace in the Middle East and all the world,” Mr Mohammadi said. “We want to change this regime to have one secular democratic government.”