Belgium – De Morgen, Mar. 07, 2026
Bombs fall in Tehran, and in a prison on the outskirts of the Iranian capital sits Swedish-Iranian scientist Ahmadreza Djalali (54). He has been imprisoned for almost ten years, a visiting professor at the Brussels university VUB, father of two children, and husband of Vida Mehrannia (51).
This is how Djalali’s wife experienced the first week of this war, from safe Stockholm, more than 4,000 kilometers away from her husband, waiting for a phone call.
Saturday, February 28
“A preemptive strike has begun. I was in the car Saturday morning, behind the wheel, and as usual, I was listening to Iran International. The channel, which operates from London, is the main source of information for the Iranian diaspora worldwide. I heard it was a coordinated attack by the Americans and Israelis, but much was still unclear. There were images of Iranian girls happy that it finally happened.
“Shortly after, it became clear that the building of Supreme Leader Khamenei had been hit. But it was denied that he was there, and anyway, no one could believe he would be dead. Until in the afternoon my son called: ‘They killed Khamenei.’ I told him it was fake news, but when confirmation came, I burst into tears. It was so emotional. We had been waiting for this for so long. Khamenei has destroyed so many lives, including mine.
“I spent my childhood in Iranian Azerbaijan, a region in the far northwest of Iran. To pursue higher education, I moved to Tehran, where I married Ahmadreza Djalali. We had a daughter, Amitis.
“For ten years, I worked as a chemical analyst for the Iranian nuclear agency. Ahmadreza specialized in disaster medicine. When it became possible for him to earn a doctorate in Sweden, we moved immediately. Amitis was 6 years old then.
Quote:
‘I still vividly remember our neighbor being abducted by the regime. I was 10 years old at the time.’
“When I was six, I had to wear a headscarf to school—for six years! Once, when I forgot it, the principal simply sent me home to get it. There was no escaping.
“My childhood took place against the backdrop of the war with Iraq. It was a terrible period, and criticism was forbidden. I still vividly remember our neighbor being abducted by the regime when I was 10.
“Saturday evening, like many Iranians in Stockholm, I took to the streets. Thousands of us were at Norra Bantorget Square, where we had protested many times before. This time, we could dance! People brought pastries to celebrate Khamenei’s death. It may sound strange, but we weren’t just happy. It’s a strange kind of joy, but everyone knows someone who has been killed by the regime. Yes, when such a blow is dealt, there is a sense of euphoria.”
In better times: Vida Mehrannia, Ahmadreza Djalali, their daughter Amitis, and their son Ariyo in Sweden.
Sunday, March 1
“I couldn’t sleep last night. Too nervous. Fortunately, I could have brunch with our daughter at Joe & The Juice, known for its tasty sandwiches. Amitis is now 23 years old and, like her father, graduated in medicine, even from Karolinska Institutet, where her father was affiliated. She now works in a hospital in Sweden.
“We told each other we were waiting for the death of the other Iranian leaders. Her childhood mostly took place in Sweden, but she has many memories of Iran. When U.S. President Trump promised to help the Iranian people, we thought it wasn’t real—a mirage.
