Local Iranians react to recent tensions between US and Iran

In the midst of rising tensions between the US and Iran, an Austin woman said there is one thing she wants fellow people in the Austin community to know before judging someone for being from Iran: Everybody has to know that Iranian people don't want this.

AUSTIN, Texas - As tensions with Iran continue to rise, those who've fled the country and now live in Austin worry for their families still there.

Some US-based Iranians fear further escalation may kill innocent people. "I don't know how much we can do from here for our families in Iran. I honestly don't know what we can do for our families in Iran,” said an Iranian woman who now resides in Austin.

The woman asked FOX 7 Austin to hide her identity, not because she worries about retaliation from those in the community on knowing where she's from, but rather from the Iranian government itself. "It's the fear for my family in Iran, what the government would do to my family in Iran,” said the woman.

Having left Iran when she was a teenager, she said there's a reason she's lived most of her life in the US. "In Iran, it's so different. Iranian people are not armed, there is no way we can get rid of the Iranian government, we can't get rid of them,” said the woman.

In the midst of rising tensions between the US and Iran, the Austin woman said there is one thing she wants fellow people in the Austin community to know before judging someone for being from Iran: "Everybody has to know that Iranian people don't want this. Iran people don't like the Iranian government, we want them out but there is nothing we can do,” said the woman.

RELATED: Blasts heard inside Baghdad's Green Zone, home to US embassy and seat of Iraq's government

As for her family in Iran, she said she's been in contact with them. Right now she said no one knows what will happen next over there. "They're terrified, they're like ok we're going to store food, we're going to store up batteries, and candles, and dry food because we don't know what will happen tomorrow," said the woman.

Having left during a war, the woman said she's seen what violence can do and it's the last thing she wants for the area.

The woman also mentioned that she used to make regular trips to visit her family in Iran, but following these recent events, she's not sure when she will be able to go see her family again.