Washington, March 1 (NationPress) Underneath soaring lion-and-sun flags and a prominent banner that stated “Thank You,” a spirited assembly of Iranian Americans converged outside the White House to laud President Donald Trump’s military actions against Iran, deeming them a long-awaited strike against a regime they believe has governed through intimidation for decades.

Some attendees wrapped themselves in the pre-1979 Iranian tricolour, while others brandished American flags and expressed their gratitude through chants.

“I wanted to speak to President Trump. Thank you so much,” one woman expressed. When asked what message she had for Iranians observing from afar, she replied: “All Iranian people, we want to run free after 48 years. We want to run free again.”

The atmosphere was a mix of rally and catharsis. Mobile phones were raised to capture the speeches and chants. A makeshift sound system amplified the voices that hailed the military actions as historic. One young woman played a drum while others danced joyously in a circle.

One participant voiced her appreciation: “I am here to thank President Trump and Israel for helping the Iranian people.” She accused the Iranian regime of “taking hostages, all the Iranian people inside, they are killing, they are imprisoning them, and it's terrible.” Her message to the President was straightforward: “Thank you so much. You kept your promise, and we appreciate it.” To those in Iran, she added: “Stay strong. Everything is going to change.”

Another demonstrator characterized the military actions as overdue. “We love what he's doing. He’s standing by the people of Iran against the regime. For the first time in 47 years, he is defending us.” She continued: “We Iranian people wanted this war. We wanted the regime to fall. We are grateful to President Trump, and we thank the USA and Israel for their support.”

A third participant characterized the day as “very significant for all Iranians globally” and proclaimed, “We thank him. We thank him. He is the best in the world.”

Another speaker framed the event in grand terms: “We are exhilarated. We’re thrilled that the Islamic regime has been dismantled. We wanted the Islamic Republic and all its affiliates gone from the region, and this is the reality of that magnificent vision.” She added that “the Iranians are very pleased to support Donald Trump for his actions and Bibi Netanyahu.”

The flags and chants faced opposition.

Across the street, another group assembled to denounce the military actions and caution against further escalation.

“As a Palestinian Armenian, I believe we should avoid all wars. We have no stake in Iran,” one protester stated. She claimed the strikes were merely a distraction for Trump amid concerns over the Epstein files, labeling him as “a puppet of Netanyahu.” Her message to the President was blunt: “Get out of the White House. You don’t belong there.”

Another man expressed his dissent: “We protest nearly everything this administration has undertaken; it's appalling, unethical, and illegal against universal values.” He cautioned, “We don’t need another war. We don’t need a conflict with Iran. It could spiral out of control.”

The two rallies illustrated a stark divide regarding Washington’s recent military actions in Iran. For some within the Iranian diaspora, the strikes signified freedom and the potential for political transformation after years of oppression. In contrast, critics feared the risk of another extended conflict in an already volatile region.