Can the US help Iran? What Iranians say - inside and outside the country

February 7, 2026

Following deadly protests in Iran that erupted over economic hardship and evolved into calls to end the Islamic Republic, Iranians both inside and outside the country are deeply divided over whether the United States should intervene militarily. Death toll estimates vary wildly, ranging from over 3,000 acknowledged by Iranian authorities to potentially 25,000 according to human rights organizations, while approximately 40,000 people have reportedly been arrested amid internet blackouts and ongoing repression. Some Iranian expatriates and activists believe foreign intervention is necessary because internal protests have repeatedly failed and been met with lethal force, while others fear that external military action could harm their loved ones and argue that meaningful regime change must come from within through mass mobilization.

Who is affected

Iranian protesters (estimated 6,000 to over 25,000 killed according to various sources; at least 40,000 arrested)
Iranian security forces and bystanders (Iranian authorities claim most of the 3,117 deaths they acknowledge were from these groups)
Medical center staff who treated wounded protesters (reports of arrests and raids)
Detained individuals denied access to lawyers or held in unknown locations
Iranian families both inside Iran and in the diaspora (US, Denmark, California)
Specific individuals mentioned: Mojdeh and her husband (stranded in Tehran), Shirin (Iranian-American in California), Roozbeh Farahanipour (former student activist in Los Angeles), Ali (Iranian living in US for 21 years), Hemad Nazari (activist and photographer in Denmark)
Approximately 90 million Iranian citizens
Iranian-Americans with family members still in Iran

What action is being taken

US President Donald Trump is voicing support for Iranian protesters
US and Iranian officials are holding talks
Security forces are conducting repression, including arrests
Reports indicate security forces are raiding medical centers and arresting staff (though denied by Iran's Medical Council Organization)
Internet blackout has partially eased but many services remain unreliable or blocked
Hemad Nazari is operating a network to share firsthand accounts from Iran through alternative channels like Starlink and posting to social media platforms
Human rights organizations (IHRNGO and HRANA) are monitoring and documenting arrests, deaths, and conditions of detained individuals

Why it matters

This matters because it represents a critical moment in Iran's political future, where the Iranian people face a dilemma between enduring continued repression under the current regime or risking the potentially devastating consequences of foreign military intervention. The debate reflects deeper questions about sovereignty, human rights, and the ethics of external intervention—particularly given the historical track record of US involvement in the Middle East. The divided opinions among Iranians themselves—between those who see no alternative to outside help after repeated failed uprisings and those who believe meaningful change must come from within—illustrates the complexity and desperation of the situation. The massive death toll, tens of thousands of arrests, and ongoing repression demonstrate that this is not merely a theoretical policy debate but a humanitarian crisis with life-or-death implications for millions of Iranians. The outcome will likely have regional and global security implications beyond Iran's borders.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC