An anti-regime protester raises Iran’s pre–Islamic Revolution flag during a rally in London supporting airstrikes targeting the regime. Demonstrations against the Iranian regime erupted in several Western capitals on Saturday after the attack began. (Source: Reuters)
Over the past hours, dozens of videos have spread showing Iranians abroad weeping as they sing old patriotic songs and speak of a “return that is now close.” Faces heavy with emotion, flags raised high, and voices in which tears blend with hope. In these clips, what appears is not merely an emotional reaction to a military event, but a feeling among some that a long-awaited moment of change may finally have begun.
What stands out is that many of these gatherings took place spontaneously, without prior calls from political parties or organized movements. Brief messages on social media, exchanges among friends, or even chance encounters in public squares turned into vigils marked more by emotion than by party organization, as opposition figures outside Iran told Alhurra.
In cities with large Iranian communities—such as Los Angeles, Stockholm, and Berlin—Iranians followed developments through public gatherings or small meetings inside homes. Some participants told Alhurra that what occurred “was not an organized mobilization,” but rather a spontaneous expression of long-suppressed feelings. Maryam said: “No one called us. People went out because they felt this was a historic moment. It was completely spontaneous—just a desire to be together.”
Alhurra contacted Iranian opposition figures in Sweden, the United States, and Belgium. Despite differences in their political orientations, they agreed that the current regime “has reached a stage where it can no longer continue,” even as divisions within the opposition persist.
Reza Pahlavi said in recent remarks that the developments reflect the regime’s “loss of legitimacy,” calling for a political transition to be decided by Iranians through democratic mechanisms.
“The future of Iran must be determined by the will of its people, through a free and transparent process. The present moment shows that change has become a national necessity.”
One opposition figure also stressed that, as U.S. President Trump himself has said—and as they have repeatedly emphasized—the overthrow of this regime will be carried out by the Iranian people. He added: “The solution does not lie in reforming this regime, but in changing it entirely and establishing a republic based on freedom and equality.”
Alongside monarchist and republican currents, opposition figures from the Ahvaz region—some of whom live in Istanbul—told Alhurra that what is unfolding may represent “the beginning of the end.”
“The gatherings we witnessed reflect a genuine feeling among people. They were not organized; they came from the heart. There is hope that return may become a reality.”
Despite broad agreement on the need to end the current regime, disagreements remain over the shape of the future state and the mechanisms of transition. Yet amid the spontaneity of the gatherings, the tears of song, and the differing political statements, the Iranian diaspora appears to be living a moment charged with emotion—and cautious hope for a new phase that may be emerging on the horizon.
The article is a translation of the original Arabic.
Randa Jebai
Randa Jebai is an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years of experience. She joined Alhurra TV’s investigative team in 2020, earning honors from the AIBs, New York Festivals, and the Telly Awards. She previously worked with major Lebanese outlets and holds master’s degrees in law and journalism.
