(Editor’s note: The day after the U.S. and Israel started bombing Iran, Virginia Defender editor Phil Wilayto wrote to an old friend in Tehran and asked if he and his family were OK. The friend is Habib Ahmadzadeh, an author and filmmaker whom we met during our 2007 journey through Iran. The following are emails we have received from Habib. More emails will be posted on the Facebook page of The Virginia Defender as they are received.)

March 2 

Hello, Phil thank you for asking how I am. Google cut off my email without any warning. My family and I are healthy for now. A big war has been started by the corrupt people of the world against the innocent people of my country, but here we march under the bombardment every day. Please do something wrong by spreading the protest against this war. Your friend Habib

March 2 

Salam Phil It is very interesting to me that in this brutal war between America and Israel against Iran, all the happy-go-lucky tyrants of Epstein Island are on one side and Iran is on the other. Can you find the name of even one Iranian official or military person in Epstein’s documents? There is an exception, of course. The only Westerner whose name is not mentioned in the documents of this island is Netanyahu, who must have equipped this island for his friends. Because there is a proverb that says that if you want to answer all the questions of an exam wrong, you must first know all the correct answers. Two days ago, 161 girl children were killed in a school in the small town of Minab in southern Iran by American bombs. I have come to believe that in the thinking of Western officials, anything is permissible. Either you have to rape children or kill them. Thanks Habib

March 8 

Salam Phil & Ana Here, two oil refineries in the east and west of Tehran have been bombed, and the fire of both. Has caused a rain of toxic particles., Many people, despite Trump’s threat, stay in the streets until morning and chant slogans against him. Today is the ninth day of the war. And the conflict and bombings against everything continue. So far, more than 1,300 civilians have been killed. All of Trump’s calculations that the two-day war will end with Iran’s defeat and surrender have been wrong. Good Habib

March 9 

Salam Phil, a new leader was elected last night and people celebrated in the streets. Interestingly, they are not afraid of the occasional bombings. It seems they know that the only way to fight Epstein’s islanders who have invaded their country is to stand firm. Only Trump was a fool who was able to replace the old Khamenei with the young Khamenei. Oil has reached $120 and is still rising. We were betrayed again in the middle of negotiations. But the people here are all in high spirits. With Habib’s prayers.

March 9 

Salam my dear friend Phil, you asked me how I am. My family and I are under airstrikes at least three times a day without any shelter. This morning, an American bomber bombed the city indiscriminately, killing many families. I am reminded of World War II, but it is strange that people do not abandon street demonstrations against America and Israel day and night. The brave martyrdom of the Iranian leader has reminded them of their historical values again. All the people of Epstein Island on one side and Iran on the other. My dear friend, I do not know how long I will live under these blind bombings, but I say from the bottom of my heart to tell our Jewish friends that I will never attribute the actions of this group of criminals to your religion. Yours, my friend Habib

March 10 

Salam Phil & Ana Today is Tuesday. Last night, Trump announced during his speech that his planes were simultaneously bombing Tehran. Perhaps only Hitler would be so proud of his crimes. He hit a leader who was a staunch opponent of building an atomic bomb and never made the slightest move in this regard. Trump falsely claimed that the Minab school, which killed 168 young students, was hit by an Iranian missile. A statement that the US Secretary of War himself knows is a lie. Because it was hit by a Tomahawk missile, which Iran does not have at all. Last night, we went through a very difficult bombing without shelter, with my grandchildren and daughters, but interestingly, people were in the streets and chanting. It seems that the more a nation is killed, the more united they become. Everyone here believes that we are paying the price here for not disclosing the documents in Netanyahu’s hands about Trump’s crimes in the sexual scandals of Epstein’s corrupt island. I have seen eight years of the Iran-Iraq war, but here buildings are being hit with precision, with families inside, and the people themselves in the demonstrations. Just pray for us and protest because one day these criminals will come after the people of America themselves. Good Habib

March 10 

Now, rainy Tehran This is Tehran’s Revolution Square. The most dangerous spot that Trump has threatened to bomb. The people of Tehran are now holding Ramadan prayers in the streets under the intermittent rain and praying for the victory of their country. They think they have to do something to defend their country. Good Habib

March 11 

Salem phil, Tonight, Wednesday, a report on Trump and Bibi’s war against the people of Iran. At noon, people, fasting during the month of Ramadan, paid tribute to the commanders and ordinary people who were killed in the surprise war. So far, nearly three thousand Iranian civilians have been killed in this war, unexpectedly and brutally, in their homes. Suddenly, a six-story building collapses on its sleeping residents. I had read in history that the Americans never forgave the Japanese government for the surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor in World War II. And now, twice in the middle of negotiations between the United States and the people of Iran, it will remain in the memories and history of the world. I am only left wondering if Trump’s wife has ever spoken the truth to him? It is quite clear from this woman’s depressed face that she has not Below is the link to the English TV of Iran. Be sure to send it to your friends so that they do not hear the news one-sidedly. Really pray for us, Habib. https://www.presstv.ir/LIVE

March 12 

Salam Phil, Thursday, the 13th day of the war, I am now in a mosque in one of the squares of Tehran, and one of the following nights the bombing has started again. From 10 pm tonight, Israeli and American planes are busy continuing the crimes, but it seems that everyone here knows that accepting a ceasefire again means repeating the same crimes in two months. So, one death and one wail. Tomorrow, a huge march is going to be held all over the country. We were attacked again in the middle of negotiations between Iran and America. Now it is better to understand why, except for a show of false peace, there has never been a real and lasting peace in the Middle East during these seventy years. Peace Habib