'Iranians are hoping for change': Mandana Karimi on Khamenei's death
Mandana Karimi, an Iranian-born actor, commented on the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
She told NDTV, "This regime is a cancerous cell in the Middle East," and said many Iranians—both at home and abroad—are hoping for change.
Karimi on Iran's response to Khamenei's death
Khamenei, 86, was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and Gulf states and carried out air strikes across parts of the region.
Karimi reflected on decades of protest in Iran since 1979: "For years, people inside Iran have protested with our bare hands. We have lost mothers, kids, universities."
Karimi on protests in India backing Iranian regime
Karimi said she felt heartbroken seeing protests in India backing the Iranian regime.
She explained that it hurt to watch support for leaders she believes Iranians are trying to move past.
Just two weeks ago, she joined an unpermitted candlelight vigil for those standing up against the government back home.