Iranian-Americans Grapple with Anxiety Amid Escalating Tensions

Thu Apr 09 2026 11:58:09 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

As the conflict in Iran intensifies, Iranian-Americans like Zainab Haider find themselves caught between fear for their loved ones in Iran and the pressures of political activism in the U.S.

Zainab Haider, driving home with her children, reflects on the threats posed by President Trump's ultimatum to Iran, concerned for her family back home. As U.S.-Iran tensions escalate, Iranian-Americans are experiencing a whirlwind of emotions ranging from fear for their relatives to the desire to advocate for peace. Protests are springing up across major cities as community members cope with uncertainty and the implications of U.S. military actions.

Zainab Haider was making the drive home after work with her two young children Tuesday as she contemplated what might come from the deadline President Donald Trump had set for Iran to concede to U.S. demands. Would her relatives in Iran be safe or would they be wiped off the map?

Her emotions were heavy, ranging from anxiety and fear to even loneliness as others seemed to be going about their lives as normal despite what could have been pending doom. Ultimately, Trump did not make good on his threat that 'a whole civilization will die tonight,' instead agreeing to a two-week ceasefire in the war.

It was another moment of whiplash for Haider and the hundreds of thousands of Iranians living in the U.S. who have been thrust into a seemingly constant state of uncertainty over the future of Iran and their loved ones who still live there.

For many, the tenor of the latest discourse around the conflict has consumed their thoughts, often preventing them from getting work done or focusing on anything else. Some are protesting the war, while others guard their opinions about what is happening in their homeland, anxiously watching and wondering what the future might hold.

Haider was among those protesting Wednesday in Austin, Texas, calling for an end to the war. Gatherings also were held in New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and other cities. Aside from speaking out against the war, Haider believes that mobilizing will create “the kind of pressure that makes it harder for Trump to swing back to this aggressive posturing.”

Iranian-American Sheila Amir expressed concerns not only for her Iranian relatives but also for U.S. relatives in the military. She stated vehemently that their duty is to 'serve and protect the United States of America, not to destroy the people of Iran.'

Roya Rastegar, another Iranian-American, faces tough conversations about the conflict with her family and strives to explain the complexities to her children. She fears for the potential impacts of the war on civilians while advocating for de-escalation of tensions with the Islamic Republic.

As these Iranian-Americans mobilize to share their stories and advocate for peace, the emotional toll of worrying about their loved ones mixed with the chaos of political actions continues to weigh heavily on their minds.