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Iranian Americans are divided in reactions to historic nuclear deal Iranian Americans are divided in reactions to historic nuclear deal
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Related: Iran nuclear deal moves to battleground of US CongressRelated: Iran nuclear deal moves to battleground of US Congress
Iranian Americans are rarely shy about expressing opinions or butting heads over politics, and they wasted no time arguing with each other over the historic nuclear deal struck in Vienna . Some painted the agreement as a senseless capitulation to the mullahs while others were hopeful their ancestral country may at last be ready to emerge from diplomatic isolation. Within California’s large and prosperous Iranian community, the battle lines hew closely to the political divisions of the United States as a whole – a sign of the level of integration achieved in the 36 years since the revolution that brought many Iranian families to the United States in the first place. Iranian Americans are rarely shy about expressing opinions or butting heads over politics, and they wasted no time arguing with each other over the historic nuclear deal struck in Vienna. Some painted the agreement as a senseless capitulation to the mullahs while others were hopeful their ancestral country may at last be ready to emerge from diplomatic isolation. Within California’s large and prosperous Iranian community, the battle lines hew closely to the political divisions of the United States as a whole – a sign of the level of integration achieved in the 36 years since the revolution that brought many Iranian families to the US in the first place.
Iranian Jews, especially Republican Iranian Jews, tend to oppose the deal, while Muslims, especially Democratic Muslims, generally welcome it. “I think it’s a disaster, a complete capitulation,” said Sami Kermanian, a real estate investor and former secretary general of the Iranian Jewish Federation.Iranian Jews, especially Republican Iranian Jews, tend to oppose the deal, while Muslims, especially Democratic Muslims, generally welcome it. “I think it’s a disaster, a complete capitulation,” said Sami Kermanian, a real estate investor and former secretary general of the Iranian Jewish Federation.
“Every time this administration had an opportunity to come out in support of the people of Iran, they didn’t do it. Every time they were given a chance to strengthen the regime, they did that.” Kermanian said he was not opposed to negotiations entirely. But as soon as the Obama administration signalled it was willing to let Iran keep enriching uranium it set the talks on the wrong footing, he argued.“Every time this administration had an opportunity to come out in support of the people of Iran, they didn’t do it. Every time they were given a chance to strengthen the regime, they did that.” Kermanian said he was not opposed to negotiations entirely. But as soon as the Obama administration signalled it was willing to let Iran keep enriching uranium it set the talks on the wrong footing, he argued.
Related: Iran nuclear deal: the key pointsRelated: Iran nuclear deal: the key points
“The deal is not preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, only extending the time in which it can develop nuclear weapons,” he added. “In the meantime, the West loses the only non-military leverage it had – the sanctions.” But Maz Jobrani, a celebrated stand-up comic and actor, offered the diametrically opposed view. “I’m happy for the Iranian people, and I’m happy the American people get to win a battle without having to go to war,” he said. “It’s always great when diplomacy wins. It doesn’t seem the other ways have worked out too well.” His words were echoed by Brian Paya, a Beverly Hills real estate attorney, who saw no viable alternative to negotiations if the ultimate goal – shared by nearlyall expatriate Iranians – was regime change. “Iranians are very nationalistic,” he said. “There’s no way to attack them into going against their government. It just won’t work – it hasn’t worked in 35 years.” Paya thought the deal could reverse the brain drain that has plagued Iran since the revolution, expand economic opportunities and bring about a culturalshift from within. He suspected the biggest issue for Iranian Jews was not the nuclear deal itself but the prospect of an economically resurgent Iran posing a competitive threat to Israel in the region. To which Kermanian countered: “People who say that have no understanding of Iran or of the current regime.” The Los Angeles area is home to the largest Iranian community outside Iran. The Jewish half is concentrated in Beverly Hills and Westwood – often known as Vestvood or Tehrangeles – while the Moslem half is an hour’s drive south in and around Irvine in Orange County. The older generation tends to more introspective,sticking to the old language and customs, while the younger generation has no trouble moving in and out of Iranian and more mixed American circles. Many of the political splits were inherited from the old country. Iranian Jews (many of whom prefer to be known as Persians) were directly threatened by the ayatollahs in a way that Moslems were not. Sometimes differences pit one family against another; sometimes the differences can split individual families in two. “The community is deeply divided,” said Alaleh Kamran, a Jewish criminal lawyer who hews to the left of many of her peers. “Republicans and the Iranian Jewish community feel this deal is a farce, designed to take away America’s teeth and make Iran into a superpower in the region, which will threaten the existence of Israel. “The deal is not preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, only extending the time in which it can develop nuclear weapons,” he added. “In the meantime, the west loses the only non-military leverage it had – the sanctions.” But Maz Jobrani, a celebrated stand-up comic and actor, offered the diametrically opposed view. “I’m happy for the Iranian people, and I’m happy the American people get to win a battle without having to go to war,” he said. “It’s always great when diplomacy wins. It doesn’t seem the other ways have worked out too well.” His words were echoed by Brian Paya, a Beverly Hills real estate attorney, who saw no viable alternative to negotiations if the ultimate goal – shared by nearlyall expatriate Iranians – was regime change. “Iranians are very nationalistic,” he said. “There’s no way to attack them into going against their government. It just won’t work – it hasn’t worked in 35 years.” Paya thought the deal could reverse the brain drain that has plagued Iran since the revolution, expand economic opportunities and bring about a culturalshift from within. He suspected the biggest issue for Iranian Jews was not the nuclear deal itself but the prospect of an economically resurgent Iran posing a competitive threat to Israel in the region. To which Kermanian countered: “People who say that have no understanding of Iran or of the current regime.” The Los Angeles area is home to the largest Iranian community outside Iran. The Jewish half is concentrated in Beverly Hills and Westwood – often known as Vestvood or Tehrangeles – while the Muslim half is an hour’s drive south in and around Irvine in Orange County. The older generation tends to more introspective, sticking to the old language and customs, while the younger generation has no trouble moving in and out of Iranian and more mixed American circles. Many of the political splits were inherited from the old country. Iranian Jews (many of whom prefer to be known as Persians) were directly threatened by the ayatollahs in a way that Muslims were not. Sometimes differences pit one family against another; sometimes the differences can split individual families in two. “The community is deeply divided,” said Alaleh Kamran, a Jewish criminal lawyer who hews to the left of many of her peers. “Republicans and the Iranian Jewish community feel this deal is a farce, designed to take away America’s teeth and make Iran into a superpower in the region, which will threaten the existence of Israel.
“And so the community is aligning itself with Fox News, with the Republicans, with the view that whatever Obama does or thinks is wrong. That blind partisanship is stopping them from seeing this deal for what it could be.”“And so the community is aligning itself with Fox News, with the Republicans, with the view that whatever Obama does or thinks is wrong. That blind partisanship is stopping them from seeing this deal for what it could be.”
Related: Joy in Tehran at end to isolation but hardliner reaction to nuclear deal fearedRelated: Joy in Tehran at end to isolation but hardliner reaction to nuclear deal feared
Often, divisions arise because expatriate Iranians generally agree they want the current regime in Tehran to go but find little or no common ground on what – or who – should replace them.Often, divisions arise because expatriate Iranians generally agree they want the current regime in Tehran to go but find little or no common ground on what – or who – should replace them.
“We’re quick to go after each other, which just leads to chaos,” Jobrani said. “It’s one of the reasons Iran is the way it is. Whenever I say I’m for diplomacy, there are people who jump up and say I’m in the pocket of the regime. I mean, have they seen my comedy?”“We’re quick to go after each other, which just leads to chaos,” Jobrani said. “It’s one of the reasons Iran is the way it is. Whenever I say I’m for diplomacy, there are people who jump up and say I’m in the pocket of the regime. I mean, have they seen my comedy?”