What 300 readers think about U.S. strikes on Iran

Readers Say

As debate over a widening war intensifies, readers — including many who identify as Iranian — share their perspectives and concerns.

U.S. strikes on Iran have sparked debate across the United States as the conflict in the Middle East escalates and questions grow about how far American involvement could go.

We asked readers whether they support the strikes, and more than 350 responded — a majority (54%) said they do, while 43% said they do not. Another 3% said they are unsure.

Why readers support the strikes on Iran

Among the readers who support the strikes, many pointed to Iran’s role in regional conflicts and its long-running tensions with the United States. Steve P. in Framingham wrote Iran has “funded terror” for decades.

Another reader said diplomacy has failed: “We can’t keep kicking the can down the road.”

One notable trend were the numerous responses from readers who self-identified as Iranian — and expressed their support for the strikes. Several described the Iranian government as a “brutal regime” and said outside pressure may be necessary to weaken it.

“The Islamic Republic has spent decades funding proxies across the Middle East while its own people suffer,” wrote Ali of Charlestown.

Another reader, Elnaz of Arlington — who said she was born and raised in Iran — wrote that “there is absolutely no other way to remove this regime.”

Why readers oppose the strikes on Iran

Readers who oppose the strikes said they fear the conflict could spiral into a broader war.

“It is a disastrous unnecessary war that puts American service members at high risk,” wrote Mahshid of MetroWest.

Several readers pointed to the strikes launching without congressional approval, while others said the United States should focus on domestic priorities rather than another overseas conflict.

“Our own people can’t afford necessities like housing, food, and health insurance. No new wars,” one reader wrote.

Another reader who identified herself as Iranian said she fears the war will devastate her country and harm civilians: “I love my country and I don’t want war to destroy everything.”

Below is a compiled list of reader responses. Responses may be lightly edited for grammar and clarity. Profanity has been removed.

Do you support the US strikes on Iran?

Yes

“As a Bostonian who happens to be Iranian — and loves our values and our representatives — I totally support and agree with preemptive strikes on that brutal regime who kills innocent freedom seeking people. On another scope, that regime would not hesitate hurting both Israel and the US if it could.” — Sahara A., Arlington

“I was born and raised in Iran. I know there is absolutely no other way to remove this regime. I know how it sounds, but trust me, for 47 years we have tried every possible way to have a normal living, and to remove them. [This regime has] the strongest militaries — US and Israel — bombing them, and are right now killing innocent people. Please stand with the people of Iran. This is what we want and we understand the consequences.”— Elnaz, Arlington

“As an Iranian, I know the only way to get rid of this terrorist regime [Iran’s revolutionary Guard] (IRGC) who kills their own people and other innocent people around the world is striking on them and eliminating them to reach the peace and stability in the Middle East and in the world.” —A Boston.com reader

“I am from Iran and I am Bostonian. For the sake of freedom and the values we have, all nations should have helped free people but also work against danger of the regime.” — Amir S., Arlington

“As a child [in Iran], I repeated [hateful] slogans. Then I started asking a simple question: Why are we told to hate people we have never met? That question eventually led me to the United States. I met the very people I was taught were evil, and I found humanity, freedom, and decency. Today, one of my closest friends is an Israeli Jew. In recent days, as missiles were launched between our countries, I checked on her every day to make sure she was safe. She checked on me to make sure my family in Iran was safe. That is the truth the regime does not want people to see: ordinary Iranians, Israelis, and Americans are not natural enemies. The Islamic Republic has spent decades funding and arming proxies across the Middle East while its own people suffer economic collapse, repression, and isolation.

For the past three years, I have had to financially support my family because life inside Iran has become unbearable. Billions are spent on militias and weapons while ordinary families struggle to survive. So when I say I support a strike, I am not calling for harm to civilians. I am not calling for collective punishment. I am saying that a regime that exports violence, suppresses its own population, and destabilizes an entire region must face consequences. Weak responses have only prolonged the problem. The people of Iran deserve a future that is not defined by hatred and endless war. The people of Israel and America deserve security without constant threats. A decisive action against the regime’s military apparatus could weaken the machinery that fuels repression at home and proxy wars abroad.

I support it not from comfort, but as the voice of family members and millions of Iranians who are trapped, silenced, and exhausted. I once believed the slogans. I no longer do. I stand against the regime, not against the Iranian people.” — Ali, Charlestown

“The answer is very simple. The people of Iran are prisoners inside a regime.

I do not see the current situation in Iran as a mere political disagreement between citizens and their government. This is not like in the United States, where someone may be a Democrat and a Republican becomes President, or vice versa. We are prisoners. Our government does not represent us. We did not choose these people. They have imprisoned us. Our economy is dictated. Our politics are dictated. Even the slogans we are forced to chant — ‘death to this’ or ‘death to that’ — are dictated. Our religious beliefs are inspected. Our clothing is inspected. We are forced to live under sanctions. We are forced to watch our taxes and national resources spent on supporting armed groups outside Iran to advance ideological and religious agendas rather than national interests.

For this government, Islam is the priority — not Iran. How can we consider these people our representatives? They have killed tens of thousands — estimates range from twenty thousand to seventy or eighty thousand — just in these protests alone. I do not remember a single protest in Iran that ended without violent repression, without bloodshed, and without the government eventually ignoring the people’s demands. There has never been meaningful improvement that came from simply speaking out. Because we know the devastating consequences of war, for years we tried to support those we called “reformists.” But they were only a mask. They were no different from the rest of the regime.

With all the criticisms I have of Trump, what he is doing is helping bring an end to this suffocation and repression. It gives us a chance to finally decide what we want for our country and what the right path forward should be. For years we asked European countries to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization — they refused. For years we asked Democrats not to support the Islamic Republic. Every form of support, every silence from Western governments, resulted in the deaths of hundreds of young Iranians. I strongly support this attack. This attack is not against the people of Iran; it is against a repressive regime. It is like dropping a bomb to open the doors of a prison — killing the jailers so that the prisoners can be free. Yes, when a bomb is dropped, some prisoners may die too. But it gives the rest a chance at freedom.” —Fatima, Boston

“Islamic republic regime is a national security threat to the U.S. They’re the No. 1 sponsor of terrorism in the world. We tried diplomacy with them for 47 years and it didn’t work. Their anti-west ideologies is a threat to the world.” — Parnia A., Brookline

“He was a dictator and terrorist. He murdered tens of thousands of his own people. If you support a terrorist regime, you are the problem. I am so hopeful for the Iranian people.” — Jeanette N.

“For the last 50-plus years, Iran has been a threat to the entire world. We have tried diplomacy multiple times. NOTHING has worked. Even Obama’s attempt to pay them off just enabled them to buy nuclear parts. It is long overdue. Give the Iranian people their country back.”— Brian, Lexington

“We can’t keep kicking the can down the road. Iran would soon lash out and do significant harm. It was time to take this action.” — Scooter R., Boston

No

“I am Iranian. I love my country and I don’t want war to destroy everything and kill my people.” — Zennnna, Newton

“War doesn’t bring peace!” — Sasa, Milton

“Take care of our home first. There was no money for snap but there’s money for war? There’s no money for affordable healthcare?” — Fresnel D., Brockton

“The ‘imminent’ threat is no different than the threat has always been. Circumventing Congress and spending billions of taxpayer dollars is a missed opportunity to improve things domestically in meaningful ways.” — Chuck M., Scituate

“This action is beneficial to at most a few hundred people in the world, the majority shareholders in the major defense contracting companies. For everyone else, this makes us all less safe and will lead to unpredictable retaliatory attacks for decades. Trump will go down as the dumbest dictator in history.” — Matt, Beverly

“Lack of congressional approval.” — A Boston.com reader

“There is absolutely ZERO justification for this preemptive war of choice. We have no business assassinating leaders of other countries!” — Meredith, Maynard

“Our own people can’t afford necessities like housing, food, and health insurance. No new wars.” — A Boston.com reader

“I voted for Trump primarily because he promised to stop the endless wars. He has been the aggressor both with Venezuela and now Iran. I regret giving him my vote.” — Will W., Medway

“Because we’ve had enough war.” — A Boston.com reader

“This escalation risks becoming a broader regional war. The U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran was launched without formal approval from Congress.” — Negin G., Lexington

I don’t know

“I don’t know who to believe anymore.” — Melody

“Still trying to understand it all and not be biased.” — Angela, Windham

Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.