India, March 4 -- Many in the Iranian American diaspora spent several days glued to their televisions, watching the news of US and Israeli bombs falling on Iran, some clinging to hope it might bring a brighter future to their homeland but terrified their relatives will suffer in a new Middle East war with no certain end.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled Iran for decades while violently crushing dissent, was killed early in the attack. In the United States, many celebrated, some popped Champagne, some downed shots of tequila, some took to the streets to cheer the toppling of a ruler they considered a tyrant.

"We are happy, we are happy that he is gone and he can't kill our innocent people anymore," said Ava Farhadi, 33, an electrical en...