Iranian Immigrant in San Diego Worries World Is 'Worse Off' After Trump's Iran War Address

Shahriar Afshar, who has family in Tehran, says ending the conflict now would be 'far worse' than continuing the military campaign.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 6:26am

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As President Trump addressed the nation on the ongoing war in Iran, a San Diego-based Iranian immigrant named Shahriar Afshar expressed concerns that the world is now 'worse off' despite the president's claims that the U.S. will be 'safer, stronger, more prosperous' after the conflict. Afshar, who had previously supported U.S. intervention, now believes that simply 'bombing Iran and leaving' without regime change would leave the problem 'intact' and lead to further instability.

Why it matters

The perspectives of Iranian immigrants like Afshar provide important insight into the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran. As the war drags on, there are growing concerns about its long-term consequences, both for the Iranian people and for America's standing on the global stage.

The details

In his address, President Trump claimed that 'change has occurred' in Iran's leadership and that the 'new group is less radical and much more reasonable.' However, Afshar strongly disagreed with this characterization, stating that he has 'never heard anyone refer to the Islamic Republic as reasonable people.' Afshar also expressed frustration with the president's apparent willingness to pull out of the conflict, arguing that if the U.S. has 'suffered all these casualties' and 'spent billions of dollars,' it should 'start something, finish it' rather than leaving the problem 'intact.'

  • The war in Iran began 33 days ago.
  • ABC 10News spoke with Afshar about the conflict a month ago, when he had a much more positive view of the U.S. intervention.

The players

Shahriar Afshar

An Iranian immigrant living in San Diego who has family in Tehran. Afshar initially supported the U.S. intervention in Iran but has since grown concerned that ending the conflict now would be 'far worse' than continuing the military campaign.

President Trump

The current President of the United States, who addressed the nation on the ongoing war in Iran and claimed that the U.S. will be 'safer, stronger, more prosperous' after the conflict, a characterization that Afshar strongly disagreed with.

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What they’re saying

“We are worse off now than we were before. The world is not more safe. We are less safe because of this incomplete action. If, if we just bomb Iran and leave.”

— Shahriar Afshar, Iranian immigrant

“I've never heard anyone refer to the Islamic Republic as reasonable people, any branch of government. So right there, that is worrying.”

— Shahriar Afshar, Iranian immigrant

“Because you leave the problem intact. If you go in and you suffered all these casualties, you spent billions of dollars, everybody in San Diego is paying $7 a gallon for gas. All of us are part of this now. You start something, finish it.”

— Shahriar Afshar, Iranian immigrant

What’s next

The U.S. government will need to carefully consider the perspectives of Iranian immigrants like Shahriar Afshar as it determines its next steps in the ongoing conflict with Iran. Afshar's concerns about the potential consequences of a premature withdrawal highlight the complex geopolitical dynamics at play and the need for a well-thought-out strategy that addresses the root causes of the conflict.

The takeaway

This story underscores the importance of considering diverse perspectives, especially from those with direct ties to the regions affected by U.S. foreign policy decisions. As the war in Iran continues, it will be crucial for policymakers to engage with Iranian-American communities and carefully weigh the potential long-term implications of their actions, rather than relying solely on short-term political calculations.