TEHRAN — An open letter from Tehran addressed to the American public urges the maintenance of pressure on the Iranian regime amidst escalating military conflicts in the Middle East. The content, published on March 7, 2026, in the California Post, quotes a writer living in Tehran whose identity is being withheld for safety reasons. The author describes the moment they heard a large explosion on February 28, when strikes targeting Iranian regime-linked targets began. According to the account, the prevailing emotion in the surrounding community was not panic, but hope for political change. From an apartment in the Narmak district of Tehran, the writer saw smoke rising from the area believed to be the residence of former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The article suggests that many Iranians have lost faith in the current government after years of protest crackdowns. The letter recalls the 2009 protest movement, when citizens protested presidential election results and demanded political reform. According to the author, many subsequent efforts for peaceful change led to crackdowns and arrests. The writer recounts a personal experience of being detained by morality police for filming young people dancing in a park in Tehran. Following the incident, friends and family helped delete phone data to avoid legal risks. The article also mentions protests that took place in several Iranian cities earlier this year, where participants called for political change and expressed support for Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late Shah of Iran. The author asserts that many Iranians wish to establish a new political system through free elections in the future. The letter also sends a message to the American public, calling for continued support for efforts to pressure the Iranian regime. The writer's identity is withheld. The content of the article was transmitted out of Iran through friends in California.

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