Iranians in Colorado Express Concern Over Military Conflicts

Community members want freedom for Iran but fear escalation of violence

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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Members of the Iranian community in Colorado have voiced their concerns following the U.S. and Israel's military operation in Iran. While they agree the Iranian regime oppresses the people, they worry that military action will only worsen the situation in the Middle East. The community is divided in their views, but they all want peace and freedom for their homeland.

Why it matters

The Iranian-American community in Colorado represents a diverse range of perspectives on the complex political situation in Iran. Their concerns about the potential for escalating violence and the desire for a peaceful resolution highlight the nuanced nature of this geopolitical conflict.

The details

Roshan, an Iranian immigrant who has protested in front of the Colorado State Capitol for six years, says the people want real freedom but believes the U.S. military action is more about access to Iran's oil than liberating the Iranian people. Kevin Amireshani, of the Colorado Chapter of the National Iranian American Council, also wants peace and freedom for Iran but thinks war is not the answer, fearing it will only make the situation worse. Dr. Micheline Ishay, Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Denver, says the magnitude of the U.S. and Israel's attack on Iran is unprecedented and that Iran's response could lead to an ugly situation.

  • The U.S. and Israel launched a military operation in Iran on Saturday.

The players

Roshan

An Iranian immigrant who has been protesting in front of the Colorado State Capitol every weekend for six years, calling for freedom for the Iranian people. He says the Islamic Regime executed his sister and he was never able to return to Iran.

Kevin Amireshani

On the leadership council of the Colorado Chapter of the National Iranian American Council. He wants peace and freedom for his family and friends in Iran and believes war is not the answer.

Dr. Micheline Ishay

The Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Denver. She says the magnitude of the U.S. and Israel's attack on Iran is unprecedented and Iran's response could lead to an ugly situation.

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What they’re saying

“The people want to have freedom, real freedom.”

— Roshan (CBS Colorado)

“We are making the situation worse. This is scary. That is horrible. It's honestly a shameful day to be an American. There is a middle path here where you can both push back on the Iranian regime, but also not support war.”

— Kevin Amireshani, Leadership council member, Colorado Chapter of the National Iranian American Council (CBS Colorado)

“This is the first time that the United States dispatched that level of ammunition of the armada near Iran. The Iranian government is behaving in sort of like a survival mode. And just attacking even a country in the Gulf with whom they had some level of deterrence, rapprochement, it's going to be very ugly.”

— Dr. Micheline Ishay, Director, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, University of Denver (CBS Colorado)

The takeaway

The Iranian-American community in Colorado represents a range of perspectives on the complex political situation in Iran. While they all want freedom and peace for their homeland, they are divided on whether military action is the right approach, highlighting the nuanced nature of this geopolitical conflict.