Mixed Emotions in Bay Area's Iranian Community Over U.S.-Israeli Attack

While some celebrate the end of an era with the killing of Iran's supreme leader, others are wary of foreign intervention.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran and the killing of its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has engendered a mix of emotions among Iranians across the Bay Area. Some held joyous rallies in support of the action, while others protested the U.S. intervention. The community is divided over whether this marks the end of an era or raises uncertainty about Iran's future.

Why it matters

The attack on Iran's leadership has significant geopolitical implications and has sparked intense debate within the Bay Area's Iranian community about the role of foreign intervention, the future of Iran's governance, and whether this action will ultimately benefit the Iranian people.

The details

At a rally in San Francisco, some Iranians celebrated the killing of Khamenei, describing it as a 'rescue mission' for their country. Others protested the U.S.-led attack, arguing Khamenei should have faced a public trial. Iranians in the Bay Area expressed a range of views, from a sense of closure over Khamenei's death to uncertainty about what comes next for Iran.

  • On Sunday, a rally was held at the Embarcadero in San Francisco in support of the U.S.-Israeli intervention.
  • On Saturday, the Iranian American Community of Northern California held a small rally at UC Berkeley.
  • On Sunday, the Iranian American Community of Northern California held another rally at San Francisco's Union Square.

The players

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

The former supreme leader of Iran, who was killed in the U.S.-Israeli attack.

Reza Pahlavi

The son of Iran's former king, or shah, who said he wants to lead Iran in a transition to democracy.

Hamid Azimi

An Iranian expatriate living in Albany, California, who is a member of the Iranian American Community of Northern California.

National Council of Resistance of Iran

A coalition of dissident groups that Azimi hopes will take down the ruling regime in Iran without foreign intervention.

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What they’re saying

“Now that he has been taken out, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.”

— Hamid Azimi, Iranian expatriate (San Francisco Chronicle)

“It's difficult to say if they wanted him physically dead, but what they really wanted was an end to the era that's identified by him. With him gone, that era has ended.”

— Hamid Azimi, Iranian expatriate (San Francisco Chronicle)

“This resistance is ready.”

— Hamid Azimi, Iranian expatriate (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The lingering question is what will happen next in Iran after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The future of Iran's governance and the role of foreign intervention remain uncertain.

The takeaway

The U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran has deeply divided the Bay Area's Iranian community, with some celebrating the end of Khamenei's era and others expressing concerns about foreign intervention. This highlights the complex and nuanced perspectives within the community about the path forward for Iran.