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US-Iran Tensions Raise Fear Among San Diego's Iranian American Community

Coffins of Gen. Qassem Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a U.S. drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession, in the city of Kerman, Iran, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020.
Associated Press
Coffins of Gen. Qassem Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a U.S. drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession, in the city of Kerman, Iran, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020.
Zohreh Ghahremani is one of the 60,000 Iranian-Americans who call San Diego home. She says the local community is concerned and afraid about the future of US-Iranian relations.

Tensions between the United States and Iran seem to have reached a tipping point following last week's killing of a top Iranian general in a drone attack ordered by President Trump.

San Diego is home to around 60,000 Iranian Americans. Zohreh Ghahremani is a member of San Diego’s Iranian American community and involved with the Persian Cultural Center in San Diego. She's also the author of “Sky of Red Poppies,” a 2012 One Book One San Diego selection.

Zohreh Ghahremani
Zohreh Ghahremani

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She said the primary reaction from the members of San Diego's Iranian American community that she's spoken to is concern and fear. She herself is worried that the killing of General Qassem Soleimani will lead to further violence.

"It has spread seeds of further terrorism. I can just see somebody becoming so emotional that they will be the first one to commit that act of terrorism that I'm so proud that we have not committed," Ghahremani said.

Ghahremani joined Midday Edition to share her thoughts on the ongoing situation between the United States and Iran.