'It will take a generation': Iranians abroad on the protests – and change

The article features several individuals from different countries who are expressing their concerns and frustrations about the current situation in Iran. They have personal connections to Iran, with some living there or having family members who do.

* Arta, 38, who lives in Europe, witnessed a protest and strike in Tehran's grand bazaar during her visit in December 2025.
* Mani, 27, from Scotland, is happy for President Trump to intervene and wants swift action to address the situation.
* Hana, 40, from Germany, believes that any foreign intervention would be a disaster for both Iran and the region. She is strongly against regime change in Iran due to her lack of trust in an alternative system at present.

These individuals are not alone in their concerns. The article highlights the emotional toll of the situation on those affected, with many struggling to cope with the uncertainty and fear that comes with it.

I'm worried about what's going on in Iran right now . I mean, I get it that everyone has a different opinion - Arta was straight up traumatized by what she saw in Tehran's bazaar - but Mani's all for President Trump to jump in and sort things out? That's kinda concerning... . And then there's Hana, who's all about no foreign intervention - fair point, that could be a total mess . What I'm trying to say is, we need to be careful with how we approach this situation. We can't just sit back and do nothing, but at the same time, we don't want to make things worse .

I'm really worried about what's happening in Iran right now... like I keep thinking about my friend who's family is living there and we don't know how they're doing. The thought of all those protesters in Tehran's bazaar just to be met with such brutality makes me want to do something, but I don't even know where to start .

I think Mani has a point when she says President Trump should step in, but at the same time, it feels like we're not really looking at the bigger picture here... like how are we gonna deal with all the fallout if things go south? I've been reading about this for ages and it's just so frustrating because no one seems to have a clear solution .

I'm with Hana on that though, any foreign intervention is just gonna make things worse... we need some kind of middle ground here. It's not like we can just keep turning a blind eye while innocent people are suffering .

omg i cant even imagine living in iran rn its like a never ending nightmare u no how hard it must b for ppl like arta who have 2 witness protests n strikes in tehran's grand bazaar she must b shaking rn

i think mani is a bit too hasty w/ his comments though president trump shouldnt just rush into things without considering the consequences its like, whats the plan here?

but i gotta agree w/ hana on this one foreign intervention would b a huge mistake its like, we dont no what's best 4 iran rn & u can bet ur bottom dollar that any regime change would bring more problems

This Iran crisis is getting outta hand . We're talking mass protests, economic collapse, and people losing loved ones... what's next? Can't we all just chill for a sec?

omg i cant even imagine whats goin on in iran rn like what kinda situation is so bad ppl r losin hope already? arta was at this protest in tehrans bazaar & mani thinks trump should just step in lol but i get where hana's comin from too, dont wanna see a whole region get messed up think we shd be supportin them more instead of just speculatin about what gonna happen next

It's crazy how things are going on in Iran right now . I remember when my cousin was living there a few years back, it seemed so peaceful and welcoming...now I hear they're protesting in the grand bazaar? That's just heartbreaking to think about. It's amazing how some people still want President Trump to step in though, like Mani from Scotland . I mean, what's good about that? Doesn't he know how complicated it all gets when outsiders try to fix things? And Hana's point about not wanting regime change is so valid too...have you seen the news on other countries that tried to "help" and ended up causing more harm? It just feels like this whole situation is a mess, and I don't know what anyone can do to make it better .

I'm getting a bad vibe from this situation . Like, I'm all for supporting people in need and stuff, but the more I hear about Iran, the more I think we're just pissing everyone off over here . I mean, have you seen the vids of the protests? People are literally fighting for their lives, and then we're over here like "oh, let's send some troops to fix it"? That's not how things work, fam.

And what really gets me is that everyone's just so divided on this. Some people think the US should step in, while others are all about non-intervention . It's like, can't we just take a deep breath and try to understand the situation for once? I mean, Arta saw what was going down in Tehran, she's got some insight there... but does anyone listen?

I don't know what the solution is, but I do know that this isn't something we can just wish away . We need to be honest with ourselves and figure out why this is happening in the first place. Maybe then we can start working towards a real solution instead of just throwing our hands up in the air .

This whole thing is getting so out of hand... I mean, I get it, people want change and all that, but does anyone think about what's gonna happen afterwards? Like, we're always quick to intervene in someone else's problems, but do we even know the first thing about Iran or their politics?

I was watching some videos of the protests in Tehran during Arta's trip and it's like the whole city is on edge... I can feel the fear and anxiety from there. And then you got people like Mani who are all for President Trump to step in, but what about the consequences? Are we really prepared for that?

I'm with Hana on this one though - any foreign intervention would be a huge mistake. We need to support those affected by the situation, not try to fix it ourselves. It's gonna take time and effort to get things sorted out in Iran, and we can't just rush into things without thinking it through...

its crazy how one person can have so much impact on another's life you know? like Arta was just chillin' at a bazaar in Tehran and suddenly she's caught up in a protest meanwhile Mani is literally living vicariously through Trump wanting to be part of the action but honestly Hana makes some valid points about not messing with Iran's stuff either. it's all so complicated...

Wow the situation in Iran is getting super intense I feel bad for everyone involved, especially the people who have family or friends living there. It's like they're stuck in a really scary situation with no clear way out . I'm curious to know what's going on behind the scenes that's making everyone so worried about it

I'm like totally against any kind of foreign intervention in Iran , but at the same time I think it's kinda crazy how unpredictable things are going to get... I mean, if anyone can bring some stability, it's Trump, right? But on the other hand, what if that just makes things worse for everyone? And then again, I've got friends who live in Iran and they're literally living with fear every day, so we gotta do something. But what, I don't know... maybe we should just stick to our own hands and let them figure it out themselves?

So I was reading about this news and I'm like totally confused. People from different countries are having different opinions about Iran. Like, what's up? Arta thinks the situation is bad but she's not sure if Trump would be able to fix it. And Mani is all for Trump stepping in, which seems kinda weird to me because we already had him trying to do that like 10 years ago and it didn't go so well. Meanwhile Hana from Germany is all about no foreign intervention, I get where she's coming from but it feels like we're just gonna keep messing with Iran without knowing what we're doing. Can someone give me some sources on this or am I just overthinking it?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole Iran thing ... I mean, can we really just sit back and do nothing while people are suffering? It's like, I get Hana's concern about foreign intervention, but at what cost? We're always talking about the importance of stability and security, but when it comes down to it, isn't that just a euphemism for "let's maintain the status quo"? And that's exactly what's keeping people in Iran trapped... is our desire to avoid rocking the boat really worth letting them suffer?

I think we need to ask ourselves why we're so invested in this particular country's internal affairs. Is it because of some twisted sense of geopolitics? Or is it because we genuinely care about the well-being of its people? I know I want to believe that, but every time I hear these conflicting opinions from Arta, Mani, and Hana... my mind just goes blank

I'm telling you, something fishy is going on over there . These people are saying they have personal connections to Iran, but what's really going on? Is this just a coincidence or are they being used as pawns in a much bigger game? I mean, Arta witnesses a protest and strike, Mani wants Trump to intervene... it seems like someone is trying to stir up some chaos. And Hana, she's got that "I don't trust anything" vibe going on... sounds like someone who's been around the block a few times. You can bet your bottom dollar there's more to this story than meets the eye .

I'm so worried about what's going on over there... I mean, who can blame them for being scared? I've been following this story and it's getting really ugly, ya know? The thought of foreign intervention is just a recipe for disaster, in my opinion . Mani might think President Trump would be the hero we need, but let's not forget he's got a history with, well, everything .

And don't even get me started on regime change... it's like, what's the alternative? A bunch of politicians with their own agendas and power struggles? No thanks, I'm good . It's all just too complicated and messy. We should be supporting these people from afar, not rushing in with guns blazing .

I mean, have you seen the state of the grand bazaar lately? It's like a war zone, for real . And Hana's right, any foreign intervention would just make things worse... it's like we're not even listening to what they need .

I'm so done with this whole thing... I mean, can't they just sort out their own country already?! It's like, we're watching from afar, and people are getting hurt left and right. Arta was literally in the middle of the protest at the bazaar and now she's got to deal with the aftermath. No thanks, mate.

I don't get why Mani is so eager for Trump to step in. Has he seen the news? It's not that simple. And Hana's concern about foreign intervention makes total sense. She's right; we can't just impose our will on someone else's country. That's like, basic diplomacy 101.

I'm really worried about what's going down there. The people are suffering, and it's not fair. We should be focusing on supporting them, you know? Not just sitting back and watching the drama unfold. Can we please just do something?!