[Quillette] On 17 June 2025, I received a video message from a woman in Tehran. Her face was hidden and her voice disguised. She said, "Even while Israel is bombing, I feel more threatened by the Islamic Republic than by Israel."
She isn’t alone in these feelings. I run a Persian YouTube channel with viewers across Iran. I recently asked people to send in messages for Israelis. Within hours, my Telegram blew up with voice notes and video clips. People were filming their carpets, their shadows, their screens—whatever wouldn’t get them caught. They sent the videos to me so that I could translate them into English for our Israeli audience on my English YouTube channel. The messages came from schoolteachers, students, parents, couples, and even a soldier. These people were speaking directly to Israel—and they were saying "thank you."
I’ve lived half my life in Iran. Since I left, I’ve spent a lot of time talking to people still stuck living under the regime. I’ve been part of activist networks for years. In addition to my Persian and English YouTube channels, I run an active Persian Telegram channel and a Persian Discord community, all focused on activism against the Islamic Republic. 
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