Iranians living in Winnipeg say strikes that killed supreme leader will lead to 'prosperity and freedom'
CBC
Some Iranians living in Winnipeg continued celebrating throughout the weekend after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint attack launched by the U.S. and Israel.
Iranian state media announced that 86-year-old Khamenei, who had ruled the country for 36 years, died on Saturday amid air strikes on his central Tehran compound. The U.S. military said the headquarters of Iran's paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG) was also destroyed in an airstrike.
Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israel and several neighbouring Persian Gulf countries that have a U.S. military presence.
Shahla Shojaei, a member of the Iranian Monarchists Of Manitoba who helped organize a rally near Portage Avenue and Main Street in Winnipeg on Sunday, said she and many other Iranians across the diaspora welcomed the foreign intervention.
She said they're are feeling hopeful that Khamenei's death will end the Islamic republic regime.
"I was just happy. I can't hide it that I was happy," she said. "[From the] bottom of my heart, I couldn't believe that he really died."
Shojaei said she saw videos online of Iranians dancing and cheering in the streets after the news broke on Saturday — before another internet blackout in Iran.
Shojaei said she hopes Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah, will come to power in the wake of the strikes to lead a transitional government toward democracy.
"I feel that it will be a very good opportunity to get rid of this brutal regime and for a return of the Pahlavi dynasty to Iran," she said.
"Iran will have a very good future and prosperity and freedom will be back to Iran."
Iran's state media says 57 people were killed in Tehran during the first 24 hours of air strikes. The U.S. said Sunday that three members of its military have died.
But some Manitobans are condemning the U.S. and Israeli aggression, saying the attacks were yet another violation of international law by the Trump and Netanyahu administrations — and accusing the Canadian government of being complicit.
About 40 people gathered outside the U.S. consulate in Winnipeg about an hour before the monarchists group gathered at the same location on Sunday.
"We can't have the Americans and the Israelis going around as the world police, assassinating leaders," said Candice Bodnaruk with Peace Alliance Winnipeg, which organized the rally.
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Some Iranians living in Winnipeg continued celebrating throughout the weekend after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint attack launched by the U.S. and Israel.
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