Southwest Floridian reacts to Iranian deadline

President Trump warned on social media that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran doesn't reach a deal by 8 p.m. EST.

The president wrote the warning on X, adding he doesn't want that to happen but it probably will. The president's post also said maybe something "revolutionarily wonderful" can happen. The deadline includes opening the Strait of Hormuz.

WINK News spoke to Maryam Nabavi, who was born in Iran and now works as a doctor in Southwest Florida. After 47 years, she said she hopes the conflict will end with the current Iranian regime being forced out of the country.

"People are happy. We are celebrating.," said Nabavi. "Not prematurely, but definitely this is the closest that we've been. So, everyone is just nervously anticipating, what is to come next, but with high hopes."

Despite harsh words from President Trump, Nabavi said she believes his intent is focused on targeting the regime and not Iranian citizens. She said she believes the attack from Israel and the U.S. has been very strategic.

"He added that he wants the freedom for the people, the actual Iranians who live there. And I think what he meant by the civilization was the regime mostly," Nabavi said.

Nabavi said despite threats of bombing power plants and bridges, friends who are in Iran can walk the streets during the day and avoid areas that could be targets.

"They've been actually quite satisfied," said Nabavi."A lot of the roadblocks that they had placed the IRGC where they were capturing and still putting, placing these people in the jails and stuff have been eradicated and they've killed a lot of those."

Instead, her concern is for the Iranians who have been arrested and jailed for protesting the current regime.

"On a daily basis they are still being hung in public, which is so sad all for protesting. I mean, who does that? It's so inhumane," Nabavi said.

While she's sure there are more dark times ahead, Nabavi's says there are people celebrating.

"I know that the people are gonna suffer even more," said Nabavi. "However, even in light of that. There's still that hope that with this we are finally gonna get our country back and get rid of the IRGC and all this regime."

Nabavi called the last few months a 'massacre' describing how Iranians have been treated by the current regime. 

"We consider these people... They're just the devil. The violence, the brutality, the deception, everything," said Nabavi. 

She said this is a tense moment for the country, but they will be able to rebuild. 

"Our country can be built back," said Nabavi. "We have an incredible population... lots of engineers, lots of intelligent people who are very educated, who fled the country, and they are all willing to go back once this regime is gone."

Looking to the future, Nabavi is hoping people can be freed from jails.

"I do feel like on the ground, at the ground level, it would be amazing to actually break into some of these jails and release these poor, innocent young people, before they are murdered, before they are hung."

She said her children have never been to Iran, but she hopes once this conflict is over, she can show them the beautiful country where she was born.