Iranian Australians are enduring a torturous wait for news from home, trapped in a state of fear and uncertainty as a severe communication blackout in Iran severs their links to family and friends caught up in the country's escalating anti-regime protests.
For almost a week, many have been left in the dark, unable to confirm whether their loved ones are safe amidst reports of a brutal state crackdown. While some have now received brief, harrowing calls, others remain in a desperate limbo.
'They Were Just Shooting Everyone': Harrowing Calls Break the Silence
Mohammad Hashemi, a civil engineer based in Sydney, was one of the fortunate few to receive a call after Iranian authorities partially eased restrictions on outbound mobile calls this Tuesday. The relief of hearing his brother's voice, however, was swiftly shattered by the horrific account that followed.
"He saw with his eyes, many people were killed in front of him and how they were just shooting everyone," Hashemi recounted, his voice heavy with emotion. "When I heard the stories, what happened to people, I was crying."
His family, who have participated in the recent demonstrations, is no stranger to the regime's brutality. His cousin, Majid Kazemi, was executed in May 2023 for his involvement in the earlier 'Woman, Life, Freedom' protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.
Amir Madadi, a Sydney software developer, also managed a fleeting connection with his sister in Isfahan. "She said we are good, don't worry," he shared, but admitted his apprehension remains. "In the past... they try to always censor the bad news from me."
A Community in Limbo: 'We Couldn't Live a Minute Without Thinking'
For the more than 85,000 Iranian-born people in Australia, the blackout has been a source of profound distress. The internet shutdown and block on inbound international calls have created an information vacuum, fuelling anxiety.
"We weren't sure … is our family still alive?" said Hashemi. "We couldn't live a minute or a second without thinking [about] what's going on in Iran."
Dr Moj Habibi, an Iranian Australian artist and president of the Australian Iranian Community Alliance in Newcastle, is among those still waiting for definitive news. Her family, including her journalist father, joined protests in Tehran.
"It's been very difficult and stressful, when there is no internet, and … you don't know what's happening with your family," she said. "This is heartbreaking to see people are being killed just to seek their freedom."
Another Iranian Australian, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, described her sister's account from Rasht: "She said they don't want to just hurt people, they want to kill them... All the streets were full of blood."
International Stance and a Divided Hope for the Future
The protests, fuelled by economic anger and demands for basic rights, represent one of the most significant challenges to Iran's theocratic leadership in years. While official reports cite at least 2,000 deaths, unofficial estimates are staggeringly higher.
The potential for international intervention, hinted at by former US President Donald Trump, divides the community. Dr Habibi expressed apprehension, suggesting Iranians need to "sort themselves." In stark contrast, Mohammad Hashemi stated, "Anyone in the world who can help us, we appreciate it."
As the blackout persists for many, the anguish for Iranian Australians continues. They are left to cling to hope and fragmentary phone calls, while their hearts remain with those facing violence on the streets of their homeland.
