Iranian Australians are fearful for friends and loved ones in their homeland and also of an ongoing war, despite the announcement of a ceasefire in the conflict between Iran and Israel.

Community leaders say there is fear and anxiety among community members, but also a glimmer of hope for the future.

Internet blackouts and broken communication links out of Iran have members of the Iranian community in Australia anxious about the war there and the welfare of their loved ones, they say.

Suren Edgar from the Australian Iranian Community Alliance says the community is coming together to support each other.

He also says Iranians he’s been speaking to are sharing that they are looking for change and a future free from dictatorship.

Sara Gholizadeh of the Australian Iranian Society of Victoria says that as the conflict in the Middle East escalated, community members are questioning what’s coming next for their home country.

“Even though there is a ceasefire, we are not sure what that will mean or whether it will hold,” Ms Gholizadeh.

“For some people, there is a glimmer of hope that, beyond the suffering, there might be a chance for democracy in Iran,’ she said.

“It’s devastating, very scary and everyone is very anxious,” Ms Gholizadeh said.

“People in Iran don’t want war, they want peace. We’ve been through war, and we know what it means. It’s not something the Iranian people are looking for,” Ms Gholizadeh said.

She said many Iranians in Australia were worried about their families in Iran.

“We are organising counselling session for people who are worried and under great pressure over what is happening,” Ms Gholizadeh said.

“I can tell you that 75 million of the 80 million Iranians want peace not war.

“And people outside Iran are worried about their families, about visa issues and about whether they will be able to ever go back to the country.

“People are upset because Iran is very far away and it takes time to contact people there and find out what is going on.

“There have been a lot of tears and worry because Australia is a home but Iran is also our home. Part of our hearts will always belong to that country,” Ms Gholizadeh said.

At the 2016 census, there were around 17,000 Iranian-born Victorians.

Founder of community group AusIran Rana Daspour said the Iranian regime was targeting suspected opponents inside Iran.

“There has been a brutal crackdown with repression, mass executions and killings on the streets,” Ms Daspour said.

“The regime has been weakened by the attacks by Israel and the US and some of the infrastructure of repression has been destroyed.

“But at the same time, people are scared and uncertain about what the future holds.

“There are police on the streets checking people’s phones and there have been mass arrests up to 600 do far,” Ms Daspour said.

Melbourne-based Iranian refugee Hadi Mohammadi said the situation in Iran was “not good”.

“Before the latest crisis, there was trouble and unrest with the people unhappy with the government. Now things might get even worse. We don’t know what will happen,” Mr Mohammadi said.

He said he was in daily contact with his family in Tehran.

“They are very worried about what will happen, and I am worried about them,” he said.

Iranian-born Melbourne businesswoman Nara Tabai said she was worried about her three sons, who still live in the capital, Tehran.

“My three boys are in Iran. I call them every night and I’m worried about what will happen,” Ms Tabai said.

“They are saying that in Tehran, lots of people are leaving the city, there are queues for petrol, no one in the markets and for three says there has been no school or university,” Ms Tabai said.

Another Melbourne-based Iranian woman said she was concerned about the prospect of a war.

“I am very concerned about the current situation which is unfolding between Iran and the US. I believe that current regime in Iran is pro-war in order to rescue the government,” said the woman, who asked to remain anonymous.

“Recently, people took to the streets and thousands were killed. Many people are against the current regime, and they are put to this situation so they should be worried about war or they would stand up against the government,” she said.

There are now more than 70,000 people born in Iran living in Australia.