For some Iranian Americans in the Bay Area, the Iran war now entering its third week has brought a mix of cautious optimism and anxiety for what could come next back home.

The big picture: Opinions will inevitably vary within any diaspora, but local community members who spoke with Axios said they're hopeful the U.S. intervention will be an opportunity to usher in a new age of democracy for their homeland, even as others worry the U.S. military's history of regime change in the region could undermine meaningful reform.

What they're saying: "People welcome any opportunity that forces this regime to fall," Saman Setoodeh, who lives in Pacifica, told Axios. "They tried protests. They tried ... to call for reform, and the response to all these from the government was consistent in just brutally suppressing."

• For San Francisco resident Sepehr Imani, the emotions he's experienced are similar to how he reacted to hearing that his toddler needs heart surgery: "I have to trust this doctor," he told Axios. "These doctors right now are America, Israel... There is no one else."
• "I always thought I could never go back, but now there is hope," San José-based Ghazaleh Shahani said. "I can go visit my birth country, show my daughter where I was born and grew up."

Professor Persis Karim, who formerly led San Francisco State University's Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies, told Axios the Iranian American community has been divided over the war, reflecting decades of trauma tied to the 1979 Revolution, human rights abuses experienced under the Islamic Republic and fears about the consequences of war.

• Many people "are so enraged, desperate and upset about the abuses of this regime that they feel anything is better," Karim said. "But... having watched the U.S. intervene in the Middle East over and over again, assassinating political leaders and not giving people the opportunity to determine their own future is a dangerous prospect."

What's next: Local community members have held several rallies in San Francisco and other Bay Area cities since the war began and plan to continue doing so.

• "The people in Iran, they gave their lives," Shahani said. "What we can do here is just be their voice... It's the least we can do."

Go deeper

San Francisco fashion clearly struck a nerve.

After asking readers to weigh in on the city's normcore aesthetic, our inbox flooded with thoughts — ranging from wholehearted defenses of the laid-back look to playful roasts of the city's collective commitment to hoodies, fleece and Patagonia vests.

• Here are a few of our favorite responses:

🕰️ Susan H. said notes the city was once full of sharply dressed shoppers heading to stores like Saks and I. Magnin & Co. The 1960s counterculture reshaped the look. Today's dominant fashion movement, she said, is tech.

• "What will the next movement's fashion sense evolve to once AI takes all the jobs and tech bros fade to near extinction?," she pondered.

🧑‍🎤 Jon T. said the problem isn't "bad fashion" — it's the absence of fashion. In a tech-driven city, clothing becomes purely functional. But he insists style hasn't vanished entirely.

• "Look for the kids going to the local shows at Kilowatt or Knockout, and pay special attention to those unique individuals whose personality is inseparable from their outfits," he said.

🧥 Nancy L. said the real driver is the weather. After 40 years in San Francisco, she's learned the wardrobe revolves around jackets.

• Her formula: black and denim with a pop of color in a scarf, shoes or hat.

👖 Maleah C. said the casual vibe is a plus. As someone who leans androgynous, she appreciates living somewhere she doesn't feel pressured to wear dresses or heels.

😬 Jeannine V. thinks the critique could've been harsher. In a city that prides itself on individuality, she says, "monotonous schlumpism" shouldn't be the norm.

💻 Nicholas S. said critics are missing the bigger point. From the Gold Rush to the Summer of Love to today's tech boom, San Francisco has always had one rule: There are no rules.

Share this story

🛒 The Lucky supermarket at 1750 Fulton St. in NoPa will permanently close on Sept. 11. (SFGATE)

🏢 OpenAI has signed a deal to sublease 280,000 square feet of office space at the former Dropbox headquarters in Mission Bay. (SF Chronicle)

The man facing charges for a recent altercation with Mayor Lurie's security detail in the Tenderloin, told reporters he had no idea he was speaking with the mayor when Lurie asked him to move off the street. (SF Standard)

🪧 About 200 UCSF workers voted to form a new union with the United Auto Workers. (Mission Local)

More new moms are having kids solo in their 40s, with births to unmarried women 40 and over doubling since 2007.

By the numbers: In the U.S., more than 1% of babies were born to unmarried women 40 and older in 2024, per CDC data.

• And overall, about 40% of babies are born to unmarried women.

Yes, but: "Unmarried women" can include cohabitating couples.

It's not every day that your favorite team of reporters gets the chance to get together — but when we do, we're happiest when it's warm and sunny outside, with good food and some four-legged company.

• Last night's dinner at Nopa checked every box.

👌Nadia: The service, dishes and ambience were impeccable. 10/10 recommend.

🦀 Claire: Nopa has always had a special place in my heart as one of the first restaurants I visited when I was considering moving to SF. The food is always good, but last night's seasonal Dungeness crab was a particular highlight.

🧀 Shawna: It was my first time at Nopa and I truly couldn't have asked for a better introduction. The warm goat cheese layered with medjool dates and served with crispy olive oil crostini was a particular standout. Mimi enjoyed the treat almost as much as me!