As U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran continued Saturday, members of San Diego's Iranian community expressed hope that the military action could signal the beginning of the end of the Islamic regime that many fled decades ago.\n\nSeveral San Diego Iranians told NBC 7 that friends and family still inside Iran were not seeking shelter — but were instead gathering in the streets to celebrate, despite widespread communication blackouts across the country.\n\n"Incredibly happy, finally they heard our voice," said Peymaneh Khodayari, who said she briefly reached her family before communications were cut again. "They, instead of hiding in the shelters, they were out dancing in the street."\n\nKamran Amintaheri said he first heard about the strikes through social media. "We saw the Instagram and we broke, all the Iranians, because two months we are not doing anything but monitoring Iran," he said.\n\nBoth Khodayari and Amintaheri come from Iranian military families and said they understand the human cost of war — but believe change is necessary after 47 years of life under the Islamic Republic.\n\n"Many thousands and thousands of people have been killed, kidnapped, prisoned," Amintaheri said. "All the people are united."\n\nKhodayari expressed support for Reza Pahlavi, son of the late Shah, as a potential leader for a democratic Iran. Amintaheri invited San Diegans of all backgrounds to join weekly rallies supporting the Iranian people, calling it a movement "not just about Iran, but about humanity."