Amid rising geopolitical tensions, Iran offered to send rapid response teams to assist in fighting the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, which have left scores of families homeless and claimed at least 24 lives, Newsweek reported.
Fatemeh Mohajerani, spokesperson for Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration, announced the offer. The Iranian Red Crescent Society is part of a global humanitarian network renowned for disaster response, particularly earthquake relief.
Tehran's gesture is notable given the strained relations between the U.S. and Iran. President-elect Donald Trump vowed to reinstate a "maximum pressure" strategy on Tehran, aiming to curb its nuclear ambitions, after the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018.
"Human beings cannot remain indifferent to the destruction of homes and natural resources of other nations, whether caused by war or the wrath of nature," Mohajerani said in the statement.
Los Angeles, home to the largest Persian community outside of Iran — sometimes called "Tehrangeles" — has a significant Iranian American population. The 2020 U.S. Census reported that over 100,000 Iranians reside in Los Angeles County.
The fires' impact has garnered a global response, with Canada, Mexico, and Iran stepping forward to assist.
Iran Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref weighed in, expressing condolences in a statement to those affected and urging global action against crises like climate change, which he linked to the California fires.
"In today's interconnected world, one person's pain is everyone's pain; we extend our condolences to all those affected by the wildfires in California and pray for a speedy recovery," Aref said.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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