The Fox News Rundown Extra: Iranian Americans on Fleeing Tyranny and Iran’s Future
Mar 7, 2026
Tabby Refael, Los Angeles journalist and Iranian-American activist who fled as a child, shares personal memories of life under the theocracy. Dr. Houman Hemmati, board-certified physician who escaped after the 1979 revolution, recounts his family’s flight and community resilience. They discuss reactions to recent regime changes, mixed emotions of joy and caution, cultural preservation abroad, and hopes for Iran’s future.
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Celebration Mixed With Cautious Optimism
- Iranian Americans feel simultaneous celebration and apprehension after the regime's decapitation.
- Houman Hemmati emphasizes the regime remains dangerous and freedom isn't secure until oppressive structures are dismantled.
Childhood Memory Of Revolution In Tehran
- Hemmati recalls sitting as a 3-year-old watching chants, smoke, and burning tires in central Tehran in 1979.
- His family and most of the Iranian Jewish community fled together and rebuilt lives in New York and Los Angeles, driven by belief in the American dream.
Sleeping Under Mattresses And Group Exodus
- Hemmati describes sleeping under a mattress to avoid broken glass and organizing community escapes via synagogues.
- He expresses survivor's guilt and a lifelong mission to help those still under tyranny in Iran.