Iranian protesters who fled Iran say battle has made the regime “much more excessive” 04:22
Erbil, Iraq — As hopes for a deal between the U.S. and Iran to finish the battle, now in its ninetieth day, rise and fall, there’s little indication that the oppressive regime that is dominated over the nation for nearly half a century goes wherever quickly. As rights teams warn of a dramatic rise in executions, some Iranians concern the Islamic Republic, slightly than being toppled, could change into extra brutal.
After participating in two rounds of anti-government protests, Karvan, 22, and his brother Kavian, who’s two years youthful, lastly made the choice to go away Iran on Might 13, after residing in hiding for months. They left the whole lot behind — household, buddies and their college research.
“Our lives had been at risk. If we had stayed, we might have confronted jail and execution,” Karvan instructed CBS Information in Iraq’s northern Kurdistan area, the place the brothers have taken refuge.
“Throughout the battle, the scenario was chaotic, however after the ceasefire the regime turned much more excessive towards the individuals,” Kavian added.
Iranian brothers Kavian and Karvan communicate with CBS Information in Erbil, Iraq, Might 26, 2026. / Credit score: CBS Information
The younger males, whose full names CBS Information will not be utilizing to guard their households and associates nonetheless in Iran, mentioned they took half in 2022 within the “Lady, Life, Freedom” demonstrations. These protests had been sparked by the killing of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
Just like the brothers, Amini was a member of Iran’s Kurdish minority and lived within the nation’s western Kurdish heartland, the place there has lengthy been deep animosity and mistrust towards the nation’s theocratic rulers.
Karvan and Kavian additionally took half within the large protests that swept throughout Iran in January, earlier than the rebellion was violently quashed by the regime. President Trump has mentioned 32,000 individuals had been killed within the crackdown, although that determine has not been verified. Rights teams say tens of hundreds had been arrested and dozens have already been executed.
Iranians collect whereas blocking a avenue throughout a protest in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 9, 2026. / Credit score: MAHSA/Center East Photographs/AFP
“We felt the strain, and we noticed how individuals had been arrested and injured. We noticed how they demonstrated towards the regime and fought again towards them, so their voices might be heard,” Karvan instructed CBS Information. “It gave us a sense of objective to take part within the demonstrations and make our voices heard.”
“We noticed how individuals had been shouting towards the state and authorities. We noticed how they threw stones on the authorities and the way the regime used gasoline bombs towards them to disperse them, injuring many individuals,” Kavian mentioned.
President Trump introduced a ceasefire with Iran on April 8, which, regardless of latest exchanges of fireplace, remains to be ostensibly in place as oblique negotiations between the 2 international locations proceed.
However the truce introduced little reduction for many Iranians.
“We felt that the regime began going after individuals once more,” mentioned Karvan. “They had been arresting individuals who went to the demonstrations, accusing them of being Israeli spies. They had been even arresting individuals only for taking photographs of bombed areas.”
The brothers mentioned the scenario in Kurdish areas is even worse than different components of Iran. They mentioned the economic system is struggling badly, and there are extra regime checkpoints in cities the place safety forces verify individuals’s IDs and telephones, “on the lookout for something that might be held towards you.”
“Beneath such a brutal regime it’s attainable to be detained, tortured and even get executed only for elevating your voice,” Zhila Mostajer, an investigator for the Hengaw Group for Human Rights, instructed CBS Information.
In accordance with Hengaw, about 40,000 individuals had been detained throughout the protests early this 12 months, and whereas most have since been launched, many stay behind bars. The group says 31 individuals detained throughout the protests have been sentenced to dying, and 15 have already been executed.
“It was very arduous for us, however we selected to take the chance as a result of we’re safer right here,” Karvan mentioned of the brothers’ resolution to go away their household behind to hunt security. “We hoped to be away to point out the world what is occurring, so the world understands what is occurring inside Iran.”
The younger males don’t have any plan and no concept how their lives will form up now, however they mentioned they will not return to Iran whereas the Islamic Republic regime remains to be in management.
Karvan instructed CBS Information they hope the world will see how Iranians are struggling and push for the change that President Trump supplied greater than 4 months in the past — and never only a new deal on the Strait of Hormuz or Iran’s nuclear program.
“They at all times discuss how uranium is a hazard whether it is within the regime’s arms,” he mentioned. “When you actually knew how they deal with their individuals, you’d by no means allow them to enrich uranium, and you’d by no means let this regime exist.”
“They’re a extremely harmful regime,” he added, urging individuals around the globe to “look deeper,” as a result of “in the event that they do that to their very own individuals, simply think about what they might do to the remainder of the world.”