Jewish Iranian American journalist Roya Hakakian warned that any deal between President Donald Trump and Iran that fails to secure meaningful domestic concessions for the Iranian people would shatter public trust and weaken hopes for internal change. She argued that if an agreement focuses solely on nuclear or missile issues while leaving the regime intact, many Iranians would conclude that even major military powers could not defeat the government, making public protest seem futile.

Hakakian, who fled Iran after the 1979 Islamic revolution, recounted personal experiences of repression, including the imposition of mandatory hijab rules at her school and attacks on family property. While early Israeli and United States military actions against Iran raised hopes among some that regime figures might be held accountable, she said shifting war aims and infrastructure strikes left many feeling distressed, especially given lingering trauma from the Iran Iraq war.

She called for any potential agreement to include guarantees such as restored internet access, the release of detainees arrested during economic protests, and a halt to executions. Without such civilian protections, she warned, Iranians would feel abandoned. Hakakian also criticized divisions between Europe and the United States, saying a unified response could have carried greater moral and political weight.

Addressing the status of Iran’s Jewish community, Hakakian said the regime maintains a small but visible population for propaganda purposes, portraying itself as anti Israel rather than antisemitic. However, she stressed that minorities including Jews, Bahai, and Kurds face ongoing pressure, and that tighter immigration restrictions in the West could leave vulnerable Iranians with few avenues for safety if hopes for regime change fade.