Think Out Loud Iranian in Portland shares perspective on ongoing conflict in Iran
Mar 4, 2026
Samira Sahebi, secretary of the board at Free Iran PDX and Portland community organizer, explains why she left Iran and how the regime shaped daily life. She describes communication challenges with family back home and reflects on reactions to Khamenei’s death. Samira also discusses fears of fragmentation, lessons from past U.S. interventions, and hopes for a democratic future with minimal bloodshed.
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Teenage Escape From Revolutionary Iran
- Samira Sahebi left Iran at 14 because her atheist views and the revolutionary climate made life dangerous and she asked her father to send her away.
- She described hiding beliefs in school, detentions of children, and that leaving allowed her to thrive independently in the U.S.
Internet Shutdowns Sever Diaspora Links
- Sahebi explained Iran routinely cuts external internet during unrest, severing diaspora communication via Telegram or WhatsApp.
- She noted internal services stay up for banking/food while external links are blocked, and January saw prolonged shutdowns.
Complex Emotions After Khamenei's Death
- The killing of Ayatollah Khamenei produced mixed emotions: relief at removing a brutal symbol and complexity because he was elderly and sought martyrdom.
- Sahebi said Khamenei had blood on his hands, engineered his own martyrdom narrative, and his death could inflame Shiite regions.