Born and raised in Iran, Fariba Pajooh, was detained in her country before coming to the United States. She wants to see changes in her homeland — but not by Israel firing missiles or the U.S. dropping bombs.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned Americans of a "heightened threat environment" on June 22 that could include attacks on U.S. soil. That fear appeared to dissipate when Iran attacked a United States military base in Qatar June 23, injuring no one.

After twelve days of intense strikes between Israel and Iran – punctuated by the United States’ bombing of Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend and Tehran’s performative retaliation – a US-brokered ceasefire appeared to be holding on Tuesday.