Trump's deadline to iran sparks fear for chicagoans' loved ones

As President Trump's ultimatum to Iran looms with a 7 p.m. Central Time deadline, a sense of dread has gripped the chicago community with family ties to the embattled nation.

Looming uncertainty

Trump's ominous warning that 'a whole civilization will die' in Iran if the regime fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has left many in the city's Iranian-American diaspora on edge. At Federal Plaza, a protest against military action in Iran drew worried citizens, all of whom identified the safety of their loved ones as their top concern.

Lemna Parvini, who emigrated to the US for work years ago, has been unable to contact her parents, brother, and extended family in Iran for a week. 'I know my tax dollars are being used to fund potential strikes over my own family and friends,' she said, her voice trembling. 'It's a strange, surreal feeling.'

Ali Taroqh, a former political prisoner who sought asylum in the US and later gained citizenship, has been separated from his family for over a decade. 'We all prepare for the worst,' he acknowledged, 'and every morning I wake up with the reality that I might not be able to speak with my mom and siblings again.'

For Parvini and Taroqh, the constant strain of waiting for news from their relatives, coupled with the uncertainty of their fates, has taken a toll on their mental and emotional well-being. As Trump's deadline approaches, they and countless others like them cling to hope while bracing for the worst.