PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Oregonians continue to react after explosions rocked Iran on Saturday, as the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes across the Iranian capital and other cities.
"We as human beings should be working toward peace and not using weapons to solve international conflict," Vietnam veteran Daniel Shea said. "When I first woke up this morning, I saw that the bombs were being dropped on Iran. For me, as a Vietnam Vet, it's like another wound, it's like another attack."
Shea is one of nearly 100 people who rallied and marched in downtown Portland on Saturday afternoon, denouncing the military operation. They are frustrated by yet another war in the Middle East.
Portland for Palestine organized the protest.
"I think at this point, and I'm sure a lot of Americans feel the same way, I am tired of feeling a combination of disgust and exhaustion," Jason Ohmann said. "We think the timing of those events being overnight, was meant to get people to not pay attention to it. So, we hope to react to that and come out and show our voice that this is no longer acceptable. How many wars do we need to be committing."
However, Bezad Zargaran said it is not that simple. He grew up in Iran and moved to the Portland area in 2013.
"We're talking about the regime that for over 47 years ... controlled people and massacred people," he said.
Zargaran said Iranians are celebrating in the streets -- relieved the airstrikes killed the country's supreme leader and other top officials.
"We believe this is not a war. It's a rescue, a rescue mission," he said. "Iranian people, they are all against the war and they are always looking for peace ... because they are hostage by the government and they were killed by them. There is a complicated feeling that we hate war, but what other option do we have."
Zargaran plans on heading downtown Sunday afternoon with other Iranians. They are set to protest the Iranian regime and its actions against its people.
He said he has not been able to contact his friends and family who live in Iran since the attack because of an internet blackout.
"It's hard," he said, "especially when there is bombing."
Oregon's Democratic U.S. senators and representatives condemned the attacks. In a social media post, Sen. Ron Wyden said, "Donald Trump is unilaterally dragging us into another costly and deadly war in the Middle East that the American people don't want. Trump and Hegseth are putting American lives on the line to make themselves feel powerful, while our military families pay the real price."
Sen. Jeff Merkley questioned President Trump's authority to launch the airstrikes.
"The power to declare war belongs to Congress -- not the President," he said. "These strikes on Iran are unconstitutional and risk dragging us into another endless war. Congress must vote on the War Powers Resolution immediately. No war with Iran."
Washington Sen. Patty Murray agreed, calling for Congress to return immediately to vote to end the war.
"Every Senator should be on the record -- the American people deserve to know which of their leaders supports another potentially bloody and costly war in the Middle East," she posted on X.