Iranian Americans in Utah Fear for Loved Ones Amid Conflict

Two Iranian American women share their concerns about the impact of the recent U.S. military operation on their family and friends back home.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:37am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A warm, nostalgic painting depicting an Iranian family gathered around a kitchen table, their faces etched with concern as they gaze out a window, the scene bathed in soft, diagonal light and deep shadows, conveying the emotional weight of their separation and worry for loved ones.The emotional toll of geopolitical conflict weighs heavily on Iranian Americans with family still in the homeland.Millcreek Today

Two Iranian American women living in Millcreek, Utah, Maryam Radpour and Niala Masrouri, expressed their fears and concerns about the recent U.S. military operation in Iran and the impact it is having on their loved ones still living in the country. They emphasized that the Iranian people should not be forgotten and should not have to pay the price for the actions of the Iranian government.

Why it matters

The perspectives of Iranian Americans provide important insight into the human toll of the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, highlighting the personal impact on families with loved ones in the region. Their voices help counter the tendency to view the situation solely through a political or military lens.

The details

Radpour and Masrouri, both U.S. citizens born in Iran, said communication with their family members in Iran has been difficult and sporadic since the U.S. launched Operation Epic Fury last month. They expressed concern over the damage caused by the bombs and missiles, as well as the threatening language used by President Trump in a social media post referring to '2,500 years of civilization' being 'wiped out'.

  • The U.S. launched Operation Epic Fury last month.
  • President Trump made the controversial social media post on Easter Sunday.

The players

Maryam Radpour

An Iranian American woman living in Millcreek, Utah who was born in Iran and still has family there.

Niala Masrouri

An Iranian American woman living in Millcreek, Utah who was born in Iran and still has family there.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We knew this is gonna come, we knew this war is happening.”

— Maryam Radpour

“2,500 years of civilization, you are wiping it [out]? How can you say that? 80 million lives — you were talking about 80 million human beings! They are not numbers. They are humans.”

— Maryam Radpour

“And I can tell you, being inside the chaos is much easier than being away from it. Because the guilt, the worrying, the exaggeration of everything that you hear, the lack of certainty of what you hear.”

— Niala Masrouri

“Millions and millions of people are there and they should not be forgotten. They should not pay the price of the ideology of certain groups.”

— Niala Masrouri

The takeaway

The perspectives of Iranian Americans like Radpour and Masrouri highlight the human toll of the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, reminding readers that the Iranian people should not be forgotten or made to suffer for the actions of their government. Their voices provide important context and empathy to an otherwise politically-charged situation.