Iranians in Chicago worry as communication with family is cut off, protest deaths rise

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Tens of thousands of Iranian Americans have settled in the Chicago area, and many are watching recent events closely, as their communication with family back home has been cut off.

Some of largest anti-government protests Iranians have seen in years are taking place. But according to to a U.S.-based human rights group, hundreds of people are dead after Iranian security forces opened fire on protesters.

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"So, many people are, you know, risking their lives. And it tells me they have nothing to lose. And it's overall, it's a very dark picture and sad for the humanity," said Iranian refugee Ali Tarokh.

Tarokh came to Chicago 12 years ago after being imprisoned in Iran for political persecution. The 39-year-old's immediate family remains there. Because the Iranian regime has cut off communication, Tarokh has not heard from his parents and siblings in days.

"I sent a message. It hasn't been delivered yet, and I tried to call the landline directly, no success through internet, no success," Tarokh said.

Tarokh can only rely on video coming from Iran, which includes body bags outside of a morgue in Tehran and on Monday, a pro-government rally in the streets of Iran.

In the meantime, President Donald Trump says Iranian leaders have called him to negotiate. He is also weighing possible military action.

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"We're looking at it very seriously. The military is looking at it. We're looking at some very strong options," Trump said.

Some U.S. lawmakers and foreign policy experts say U.S. military involvement would be a disaster.

"The U.S. can only make things worse. The U.S. has a terrible history of interfering in Iranian affairs, rarely making any constructive moves," said Northwestern University political science professor Ian Hurd.

In addition, Hurd says the president has given the international community very few reasons to trust him. Tarokh agrees, and he has no confidence the current anti-government protests will lead to anything different.

"There is no sign of any imminent collapse, and unfortunately, that the opposition of the regime, also, they don't provide any new discourse. They don't have any new promise," Tarokh said.

Others are more optimistic. Some Iranian Americans are hope protesters do not give up and that this could be the uprising that finally leads to a regime change in Iran.