For Pittsburghers with Middle East ties, a harrowing period after US and Israel attack Iran

PITTSBURGH — The last text message Carnegie Mellon student Aslan Noorghasemi received from his mother in Iran said: “Freedom has a price, and we are all willing to pay our share.”

“So stay strong, stay happy,” the message read as the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran over the weekend. “Everything will be fine.”

The 34-year-old mechanical engineering Ph.D. student on Monday afternoon still hadn’t heard anything more from his mom, who lives in Tabriz in the northwest corner of the country, which faces a near-total internet blackout.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led the Islamic Republic since 1989 and clashed with the United States and Israel over its nuclear program, was killed in a military strike on Saturday, leaving the country with no clear successor, according to the Associated Press.

After the first strikes hit, President Donald Trump, who ordered the attack without Congressional approval, made an appeal to the Iranian people: “When we are finished, take over your government,” he said. “Now is the time to seize control of your destiny.”

While some have criticized the military action, others are celebrating a chance for new leadership — and a renewed future for Iran.

After receiving his mom's message, Noorghasemi said he feels a “personal duty” to stay strong and remain hopeful.

“It was like I'm receiving this message from all other Iranians,” said Noorghasemi, a member of the Iranian Student Association who spent most of his life in Iran, where most of his family still resides. “I see all Iranians as my family right now.”

Since the attacks began, Pittsburgh-area public safety officials have ramped up security precautions amid the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Purim as many Pittsburghers — at home and abroad — have personal ties to the conflict.

Kim Salzman, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Israel and overseas director, lives in Misgav, an area that’s part of the federation’s partnership region in Israel. Sirens alerting of incoming attacks sounded over the weekend, she said, one after another for hours.

Salzman spent two hours in her daughter’s bedroom on Saturday, which serves as the family’s home bomb shelter — a common feature of most Israeli homes.

Five mattresses lie on the floor of the room, which is stocked with food, water, a first aid kit, flashlights and a transistor radio.

“I think most people in Israel are almost relieved that it's finally happened because the past month and a half we've been on a state of high alert,” she said. “Now we're in it, we've got to get through it.”

Safety around the holidays

The new war in the Middle East overlaps with religious celebrations in both Islam and Judaism, and large gatherings for both are expected across Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said increased patrols are being done around religious institutions in the city. She said there had been no credible threats as of Monday.

Police are monitoring the situation in Iran, and detectives are in communication with county, state and federal law enforcement partners, Cruz said.

Trooper Rocco Gagliardi, spokesman for Pennsylvania State Police, also described increased domestic security checks being done at “certain locations and places of worship” within Troop B’s area, which includes Allegheny, Washington, Fayette and Greene counties.

Hundreds of people observing Ramadan — a time dedicated to prayer, reflection and giving to charity that began last month — in Pittsburgh have been gathering each night for iftar, a meal to break the daily fast.

Christine Mohamed, executive director of Council on American-Islamic Relations Pittsburgh, said she is “deeply alarmed” by the ongoing U.S. and Israeli military strikes. Mohamed said she fears there could be an increase in Islamophobia around Pittsburgh, especially as people congregate in large groups for Ramadan.

“It deeply affects our community because of family members and ties over to that region, but (there is) also an increased risk for incidents here at home because tensions are high and we do tend historically to get backlash when something is happening overseas,” she said.

“With the conflict possibly escalating and getting larger, that’s a concern because more innocent lives will be changed forever.”

Shawn A. Brokos, director of community security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, expressed similar concerns as the Jewish community celebrates Purim, a joyous holiday commemorating the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian empire, according to Chabad.

The holiday was beginning Monday night, when many observers wear costumes to illustrate the hidden nature of the Purim miracle.

As Jewish people come together to celebrate, Brokos said the added visibility from the costumes and celebrations means heightened safety concerns.

She said she has been coordinating with local law enforcement serving more than 60 Jewish organizations in the greater Pittsburgh area to ensure they are aware of the added risks of Purim and the conflict abroad.

“Our hopes are that our Jewish community members will feel safe and fully participate in the Purim events,” she said. “But we also realize there's tremendous anxiety in our Pittsburgh Jewish community.”

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