Iranian-Canadian communities in Vancouver and Toronto say the temporary suspension has brought relief, but deep concern remains for loved ones in Iran following threats from US President Donald Trump.
Iran has agreed to a two-week ceasefire after Trump’s latest warnings raised alarm bells around the world.
Human rights lawyer Soushiant Zanganehpour said these statements show a big development.
“He has never faced an enemy in such an uncontrollable way … to threaten the destruction of the infrastructure of important people … and then combine those threats with the level of destruction of civilization – this is genocide,” he said.
On social media, Trump warned that “the whole civilization will die” unless Iran opens the Strait of Hormuz, setting a deadline of Tuesday evening.
Across Iran, people formed human chains around power plants, while hundreds gathered on bridges carrying flags.
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In Vancouver, members of the region’s large Iranian community responded with a mixture of skepticism and fear.
An Iranian citizen told Global News that the threats would not materialize, describing Iran as a great country with a long history that cannot be destroyed.
One Iranian resident said that Iranians have long endured a brutal regime, but warned that the situation could worsen without a clear plan.
In Toronto, Iranian-Canadians say the development has strained an already emotional situation.
Rogina Aselfallah said she was on edge when she followed the latest developments, worried about her family members in her country.
He said the last-minute decision to call off the attack about 90 minutes before the deadline brought temporary relief, but also uncertainty.
“I am very happy that the electricity and water will not end for two weeks, but (what will happen) after two weeks?” It’s scary too,” he said.
Babak Zamani said it is difficult to know what his family is going through. “Every night they are afraid to sleep. We hope that the war will end soon,” he told Global. He described the situation as painful and contradictory, as people are caught between calls for political change and fear of further destruction.
Sam Fayaz, who owns an Iranian restaurant in Toronto, said many people in the community want to see a change in the Iranian government, but were shocked by Trump’s comments.
“(We) were very worried, very saddened by his comments (about) destroying the entire civilization. That is not what we really want,” he said.
Fayaz added that many Iranian-Canadians feel an obligation to speak out.
“People don’t have a voice (there) and it’s our job here to be their voice,” he said.
Many say they now hope the ceasefire will give both sides time to reach a long-term solution. Zanganehpour said the uncertainty has left people looking for answers.
“The fact that we don’t have answers and we are all standing on the sidelines trying to make sense of things that have never been seen before, I hope it will bring us together a little because we are all we have,” he said.
