Israel-Iran War Tests Unity Of Los Angeles Iranians/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war is straining bonds within Los Angeles’ vast Iranian community. While diverse religious groups share cultural ties, political tensions and fears for safety are rising. Younger generations seek unity amid divided loyalties and hopes for Iran’s future.
Los Angeles Iranian Community Quick Looks
- LA’s “Tehrangeles” houses largest Iranian diaspora globally.
- Israel-Iran war revives hidden tensions among Iranian groups.
- Iranian Jews feel anxious yet divided about regime change.
- Community leaders fear local security threats to Jewish sites.
- Younger Iranians promote interfaith unity and cultural traditions.
- Trump’s stance on Iran frustrates diaspora’s political hopes.
- Ceasefire leaves many torn between peace and regime change.
Deep Look
Israel-Iran War Casts Shadow Over Los Angeles’ Iranian Community, Sparking Tensions And Calls For Unity
LOS ANGELES (AP) — In “Tehrangeles,” the vibrant Iranian enclave nestled in West Los Angeles, grocery stores and kebab shops bustle with life under Persian signage. Yet beneath the festive surfaces, the fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war has unleashed simmering tensions among the world’s largest Iranian community outside Iran.
For decades, Iranian Muslims, Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Bahai have coexisted in relative harmony here, bonded by shared language and culture more than religious or political divides. But the recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, coupled with U.S. airstrikes against Iranian targets, has fractured that delicate balance.
Divided Views Among Iranian Jews
Daniel Bral, whose family history is steeped in Iranian Jewish political life, feels rattled by the war. His grandfather, Moossa Bral, once served as the sole Jewish member of Iran’s parliament before the 1979 revolution.
While some Iranian Jews view the conflict with hope that it might topple Iran’s regime, Bral worries about the toll on civilians and doubts military intervention alone can eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat.
“This hatred for the regime actually unifies Muslims and Jews,” Bral said. “But I’m nervous and completely rattled by everything that’s happening.”
Tehrangeles As A Cultural Haven
For Kamran Afary, a professor at California State University, Los Angeles, the community remains a cultural refuge. Afary, who emigrated in the 1970s, cherishes the blend of ice cream parlors, bookstores, and restaurants that remind him of home.
“Tehrangeles offers solace and a sense of grounding,” he said, adding that interfaith marriages have become common, a sign of cultural blending that transcends old divisions.
Yet even in this tolerant environment, the war threatens to test the unity forged over decades.
Religion, Politics, And Social Class Intertwined
Diane Winston, a professor at the University of Southern California, noted that shared social circles often bridge gaps between Iranian Jews and Muslims. Wealth, social status, and a secular lifestyle mitigate religious divides.
“In Los Angeles, being less religious isn’t a problem,” she said. “The less religious Jews and Muslims are, the less antipathy they may have toward each other.”
Still, the Israel-Iran conflict touches raw nerves, particularly among Muslims who, despite opposition to Iran’s regime, feel conflicted due to strong antipathy toward Zionism.
Rising Fear Among Iranian Jews
Tanaz Golshan, who arrived in the U.S. as a child in 1986, now serves as senior vice president of Caring for Jews in Need at the Jewish Federation Los Angeles.
Judaism among Iranian families, she explained, often revolves around culture and family rather than strict religious observance. Yet the war has heightened security concerns.
“There’s real fear that temples and community centers could become targets,” Golshan said. Her organization recently co-hosted a virtual event titled “L.A. United: Iranian and Israeli Communities in Solidarity,” drawing over 350 participants seeking reassurance.
Calls For Regime Change Stir Hope And Anxiety
Arezo Rashidian, a Muslim political activist in Southern California, passionately supports regime change in Iran and favors the return of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled shah’s son, as a transitional leader.
“This ceasefire has stirred mixed feelings,” Rashidian said. “No one wants war, but we were so close to seeing this regime collapse.”
Lior Sternfeld, a history and Jewish studies professor at Penn State University, noted that Iranian Jews in the diaspora often juggle complex identities tied to Iran, Israel, and the U.S.
“They don’t see the Islamic Republic as Iran anymore,” Sternfeld said. “They see Israel more as a religious homeland.”
Many in the diaspora once supported President Donald Trump for his tough stance on Iran. However, Sternfeld said Trump has frustrated supporters by signaling he’s not interested in pursuing regime change.
Younger Generation Seeks Common Ground
Despite divisions, a new generation is pushing for interfaith dialogue and cultural bridges.
Bral engages in peacebuilding through writing and advocacy, emphasizing that “we are cousins at the end of the day.” His friend, Rachel Sumekh, whose Jewish parents emigrated from Iran, fosters connections across faiths through dinner gatherings.
Last December, Sumekh hosted a Yalda celebration that coincided with Hanukkah, blending Persian and Jewish traditions in a symbolic victory of light over darkness.
“We created a new tradition to emphasize how much we have in common,” Sumekh said. “This war is a reminder that, even if our day-to-day lives are separate, there’s still so much we share.”
In Tehrangeles, unity and cultural pride remain strong. Yet as the Israel-Iran conflict ripples through the community, old wounds and new fears threaten the delicate harmony that has long defined this Iranian diaspora.
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