In the years following heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, public sentiment within Iran towards the US has grown increasingly complex and varied. Many Iranians express a mixture of admiration, anger, and grief as they reflect on the evolving relationship and its impact on their daily lives.

Ali, a student living in Tehran, contrasts his experiences with those of Americans. He describes Central Park in New York City as an idyllic place where people freely enjoy leisure activities without fear, in stark contrast to life in Tehran, where internet blackouts and armed checkpoints remain common. Ali says he feels betrayed by former US President Donald Trump, who had promised support to Iranian protesters but later initiated a conflict resulting in over 3,300 deaths in Iran, with ramifications extending globally. Despite his disillusionment, Ali continues to engage with American popular culture, emphasizing that his frustrations with political developments do not diminish his enjoyment of American music and television.

Perspectives among Iranians vary widely, however. Soroush, a business owner in Tehran who requested anonymity, described a shift from optimism to skepticism. Prior to Trump’s tenure, he believed diplomatic efforts, notably the 2015 nuclear agreement, could foster lasting peace between Iran and the US. Since the US withdrawal from the agreement under Trump, Soroush has come to view that decision as justified, arguing that the Iranian government misused sanctions relief funding to advance its missile and drone programs rather than improve conditions for its citizens.

The human toll of the United States’ and Israel’s military actions in the region remains deeply felt. The February 2026 airstrike on a school in Minab, southern Iran, which killed more than 100 children, stands as a particularly devastating incident. Relatives of the victims have directed their appeals not only at political leaders but broadly at the American public. One father publicly questioned whether Trump harbors any guilt when he thinks of the children lost or considers the impact on future generations.

As diplomatic and military tensions persist, Iranians continue to grapple with conflicting emotions toward the US—balancing cultural affinity and personal loss, hope and disappointment, as they navigate a relationship defined by decades of geopolitical strife.