Triangle Iranians mix hope with anxiety over tenuous ceasefire

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Iranian Americans in the Triangle are expressing a mix of hope and anxiety about a two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.

Political science experts caution that it is too early to know whether the deal will hold or lead to lasting change.

For many local families with loved ones still in Iran, the ceasefire has not eased the stress caused by limited communication. An internet shutdown in the country has made it increasingly difficult to reach relatives.

"For the last few weeks, things have become even more stressful when it comes to communicating with family members," said Shahram Mazhari of Raleigh.

Mazhari said brief updates from family provide only short-lived reassurance as the conflict continues.

"We hear that they're doing well, and that kind of comforts us for a few hours, until we hear more bad news, and then we get stressed again," he said.

Some Iranian Americans say they welcome news of the ceasefire and hope it signals deeper political change in Iran.

"This bullying regime is crippled right now," Mazhari said.

He urged the international community to remain focused on people still living in Iran amid continued instability.

"If we want peace on this earth, we have to support the Iranian people to have an effective regime change," Mazhari said.

Political science experts say expectations should be tempered as the situation remains fluid across the region.

"It's the early stages of the ceasefire. It doesn't look like violence has stopped. It looks like perhaps U.S. operations that are bombing Iran have stopped. But we just have to kind of wait and see what happens," said Navin Bapat, chair of the political science department at UNC Chapel Hill.

Bapat said the Iranian government appears shaken but intact after recent fighting.

"The president hoped for something like Venezuela, where the top figure was taken out and then somebody in the ruling party would be more amenable to working with the United States. That was less likely in Iran," he said.

Experts also say economic effects tied to the conflict may continue despite the ceasefire.

"I don't think we're seeing prices drop in the immediate term," Bapat said.

As the ceasefire enters its second day, Iranian Americans in the Triangle say they are watching closely, hoping the pause leads to peace while bracing for the possibility of renewed conflict.