The Press recently asked readers to share their thoughts on whether the U.S. should intervene in Iran amid widespread protests and political violence in the country.

More than 100 people responded.

Here’s what some had to say: 

“It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to see this moment realized,” wrote Ehsan Arbabi of Coeur d’Alene, who also shared that he is a first-generation Iranian American and a U.S. Navy veteran. 

“Iran was once America and Israel’s greatest Middle Eastern ally, and it can and will be that again,” Arbabi wrote. “I think U.S. intervention in this situation is not only justified, not only welcome, (but) it’s also flat-out necessary. People are being slaughtered by the thousands as we speak in a desperate attempt to topple this regime. They clearly need and want our help. Every second we withhold it is a crime against humanity in my opinion.” 

“I struggle with the idea that U.S. military intervention automatically translates to liberation, even when the cause is just,” Post Falls resident Miriam Nevarez wrote in response to Arbabi. 

“History has shown us that intervening in sovereign nations, especially in the Middle East, often carries unintended consequences that end up costing civilians the most in the long run,” Nevarez continued. “Regime change from the outside doesn’t always produce freedom — sometimes it produces chaos, power vacuums, and decades of instability.” 

Nevarez also noted that she doesn’t believe there is an “easy answer” on the matter.

“Only via NATO if required,” wrote Craig Burkhart. “We have been being too aggressive and going it alone too much lately.” 

“No, let them rise or fall on their own,” wrote Matt McCoy. “We have enough issues here that need finished for the American people.” 

“I thought that Trump’s ‘America first’ mantra and not doing nation building (which) he campaigned on was something that he actually believed in,” wrote Thomas Hearn. “But the only thing he believes in is being the tough guy on the world stage. We need to stay out of Iran as we should other countries in the world unless they are directly threatening us.” 

“(Trump) is protecting America in every action he takes: this one, Greenland, (and) Israel,” Jan Conner wrote in response to Hearn. “That’s putting America first. Anything else is appeasement, and dangerous. Isolationism doesn’t work, not in this day and age.” 

“Yes — they are fighting a revolution,” wrote Tina Marie White Rodgers of Post Falls. “People forget that if it wasn’t for France and Spain, we would have lost our own Revolutionary War, and we wouldn’t be who or what we are today.” 

National polling results published Wednesday by Quinnipiac University found that 70% of respondents opposed U.S. intervention in Iran, while 18% favored it, and 12% of respondents were neutral.  

The Washington, D.C.-based publication The Hill reported that 79% of Democrats and 80% of independent voters polled said the U.S. should avoid military involvement in Iran. In comparison, 7% of Democrats and 11% of independents favored intervention.

Republican respondents were more split, with 53% opposing military involvement and 35% saying the U.S. should take a more active role in Iran.