Iranian PhD Student at MSU Hopes U.S.-Israeli Strikes Lead to Democracy in Iran

Kourosh Hoshiyar left Iran in 2023 and is now watching the conflict from afar, with complicated emotions.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Kourosh Hoshiyar, an Iranian PhD student at Michigan State University, left Iran in 2023 and is now watching the ongoing U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against Iran with a mix of fear, grief, and cautious hope. Hoshiyar believes the majority of Iranians want regime change and hopes the conflict will lead to a democratic transition in his home country.

Why it matters

The conflict in Iran has far-reaching implications, both for the Iranian people and the broader geopolitical landscape. As an Iranian national living abroad, Hoshiyar's perspective provides insight into the complex emotions and aspirations of those caught in the middle of the crisis.

The details

Hoshiyar left Iran in 2023, citing economic hardship and limited opportunities under the Islamic Republic. Since arriving at MSU, he has seen a stark contrast in research resources and academic freedom compared to his home country. Communication with his family in Iran has been challenging, with the internet largely shut down and his mother only able to call him, not the other way around. Hoshiyar has heard reports of the Iranian regime using political prisoners as human shields, but he remains hopeful that the conflict will lead to a democratic transition, with exiled opposition leader Prince Reza Pahlavi as a potential guide.

  • Hoshiyar left Iran on July 2, 2023.
  • Hoshiyar is currently in his third year as a PhD student at MSU.

The players

Kourosh Hoshiyar

An Iranian PhD student in organic chemistry at Michigan State University who left Iran in 2023 and is now watching the conflict in his home country from afar.

Prince Reza Pahlavi

An exiled Iranian opposition leader who Hoshiyar believes could guide Iran through a democratic transition if the current conflict leads to regime change.

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What they’re saying

“It could be a new beginning. It could be a new beginning for a lot of Iranians.”

— Kourosh Hoshiyar, PhD student (fox47news.com)

“We are looking at the whole regime change in the best scenario. Free election, and then people can choose what they want.”

— Kourosh Hoshiyar, PhD student (fox47news.com)

What’s next

Hoshiyar hopes the conflict will lead to a democratic referendum in Iran, allowing the Iranian people to choose their own future. He dreams of one day returning to Iran as a professor at Shahid Beheshti University.

The takeaway

Hoshiyar's story highlights the complex emotions and aspirations of Iranians caught in the middle of the ongoing conflict, with many hoping for a democratic transition that would allow them to build a better future for their country.