Iranian-Americans can only hope that the deadly protests rocking the Islamic Republicwill finally bring regime change — as demonstrators continue to risk their lives over the country’s deplorable economic crisis.
“I think every Iranian from this side is hopeful to see some change for their citizens because a lot of them immigrated because of the lack of certain rules and laws in Iran, human rights specifically,” Big Apple lawyer Maryam Jahedi-Perez, who left the country in 2000 with her family, told The Post on Friday.
“The fact that they know that that’s the risk and they still get out there shows you how bad it is for them on a day-to-day basis,” she added, referring to the widespread demonstrations, now in their sixth day, that have turned deadly.
“Hopefully it’s going to be a situation where some change comes of it.”
The rallies, which spread throughout Tehran and other parts of the country, have been fueled by a collapsing currency rate and inflation that’s made basic necessities — like rice and gasoline — unaffordable.
The Iranian rial lost about half of its value compared to the dollar in 2025 as official inflation hit 42.5% in December.
Food prices have jumped 72% while costs for health and medical items sharply rose 50% from December 2024, according to the state statistics center.
Jahedi-Perez said extended family members still living in Iran tell her they can’t afford “simple things,” pushing protesters to take to the streets in the face of a possible government crackdown that could lead to mass casualties and imprisonment.
Great Neck resident Russ Hakim, who fled Iran in 1979, said he still has friends in Tehran telling him people are suffering with no water or electricity.
“I think people are scared,” the 68-year-old Long Islander said. “They killed a lot of people already who opposed the government.”
But he stressed, “If the government changes, there will be hope – yeah.”
Another Great Neck local, Kevin Hakimi, 34, added, “I would love to see end of oppression there, yes. It’s a beautiful country, too.”
“Growing up in America, being free, I wouldn’t want to, you know, switch spots with somebody there,” said Hakimi, whose parents came to the US from Iran.
Another Great Neck resident, Rebecca Sassouni, 55, also wants to see change.
“However, I think there will be more oppression before that will occur,” said the first-generation Iranian-American.
New York City lawyer James Irani said all his friends in Iran tell him they are worried about the economy.
Irani pointed out Iran’s leaders are too focused on helping terror groups like Hamas and Hezbollah and have been hit hard with sanctions from the US and the United Nations, which have severely cut off access to financial markets, according to Axios.
“People are getting fed up, they don’t know what else to do,” said Irani, who left the country in 1977 to go to school.
“They risk their lives because the brutality of the system is such that any resistance will face death … I don’t think there’s any solution unless and until there’s a change in the government or there’s a change in the constitution.”
Even though there have been numerous protests in Iran since the current regime took over more than 45 years ago, this series of demonstrations “deals directly with the pockets of the people,” Irani argued.
In 2022, there was massive civil unrest over the death of a 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after she was arrested by morality police for improperly wearing her hijab.
Camelia Entekhabifard, the editor-in-chief of the Independent Persian, said the mass protests are “very much different” than past ones, citing chants for regime change.
Entekhabifard, who fled Iran in 2000, also called President Trump’s backing of the protesters a major boost for them.
“It was very heartwarming,” she said of Trump warning Iran the US would come to the rescue of protesters if the regime begins killing them.
“I believe that’s what Iranians needed to hear. They are not left alone.”
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