“The moment I opened my eyes I knew it had happened,” an Iranian woman living in Dubai says, explaining how she learned the US had become involved in the Israeli attacks on Iran.
“I tell my friends and family in Iran, whenever they get internet access, to just send me even one word to let me know they’re OK.”
This morning, the internet blackout temporarily lifted in Iran, she received the message “Fordow Hit”.
This was an instant signal the US had got involved in this war.
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The Fordow enrichment plant in Iran is buried deep inside a mountain and it was widely understood Israel needed America’s unique bunker buster bombs to strike the facility.
I’m not identifying the Iranian woman who spoke to me as she returns to Iran frequently and fears for the safety of her family who still live there. For the purposes of this article, I’ll call her Zahra.
When I ask how worried she is, she breaks down in tears. “A lot” are the words she manages to get out.
“I’m so attached to my country,” she says. “I’m worried because I know the regime in Iran is not going to leave this without retaliation. I’m worried about the region in general. Because things will escalate.
“You cannot get rid of them like this. The US is saying, ‘Let’s make peace you bullies’. The Iranian regime is not going to do this. They’re going to hit back.”
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Zahra came to the United Arab Emirates more than 10 years ago to study and, along with around half a million Iranians, has made it her home. The close proximity to Iran and the freedom and stability of the UAE were reasons she chose to stay in Dubai.
The conflict has created a highly volatile travel environment across the Middle East with many airlines suspending all flights to Iran, Iraq and Israel.
Among them, Singapore Airlines cancelled scheduled flights from Singapore to Dubai on Sunday and British Airways are cancelling flights to and from Dubai and Doha.
Many Iranian visitors to the UAE have been unable to fly home since Israel began its strikes on the country.
The response here in Dubai to that disruption has been heartwarming.
Iranian restaurants are offering free food to those stranded, hotels have offered accommodation at no cost and the UAE government has waived any visa overstay fines.
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How Iran will react to American involvement in this war is not clear but it’s causing profound concern.
Around 40,000 American personnel are based in the Middle East and no country here wants to see this become a wider regional conflict, with the threat US assets could be targeted in host nations. The UAE is stressing the need for immediate de-escalation and calling for diplomacy and dialogue.
Many Iranians don’t welcome this intervention either.
“The Iranian people deserve to live in peace and be free and be happy,” says Zahra
“We are not happy for the US and Israel to strike our country in the name of peace, no matter how much we hate our government. Just leave us alone and let us decide our own future as a country.”
