'Erfan will be held in my heart': Trump sends heartfelt letter to family of teen shot dead in Iran
WASHINGTON, DC: An Iranian-American from Woodland Hills says he received a personal letter from President Donald Trump offering deep condolences and a vow to hold the Iranian regime accountable for the death of his teenage nephew.
Majid Moghadasi shared the details of this exchange in an interview with the New York Post, explaining that the letter arrived after he reached out to the White House following the killing of his 18-year-old nephew, Erfan Faraji, during anti-government protests in January.
Trump promises never to forget what happened to Erfan Faraji
In a response dated January 13, President Trump told Moghadasi that he and first lady Melania Trump were “devastated” by the loss of his nephew.
The president offered a promise to the family, writing, “Erfan will be held in my heart, and I promise never to forget or forgive the terrible events that took him from us.”
Beyond the personal sympathy, Trump used the letter to reaffirm his political support for those protesting in Iran, stating, “Please know that my Administration will always stand with the Iranian people in their quest for freedom and democracy.”
He also assured the family that his administration was “working diligently to ensure that the Ayatollah and his murderous regime are brought to justice.”
Majid Moghadasi’s desperate plea to the White House
The correspondence began when Moghadasi contacted the White House directly just two days after learning his nephew had been killed on January 8.
In his message to the president, he described how Erfan was fatally shot in the streets of Shahr-e Rey, south of Tehran, simply for joining the demonstrations.
He wrote to the president that Erfan “was an innocent teenager with dreams and a future ahead of him. His only act was standing up against injustice.”
He pleaded for the US to take a firm stand, noting that the Iranian government was responding to the people “not with dialogue, but with live ammunition.”
Majid Moghadasi expresses gratitude for Trump's personal attention
Moghadasi said that President Trump’s personal reply provided a sense of comfort and hope during an incredibly dark time for his family.
He said that “receiving the letter from President Trump was very emotional for me,” and explained that “when I first read his response, I felt that my voice—and more importantly, the voice of my late nephew, Erfan Faraji, and many others—had finally been heard.”
Expressing his gratitude and his desire for regional stability, Moghadasi said, “I would like to thank Donald Trump for his attention to these matters. I hope that the decisions being made will ultimately lead to peace, security, and a better future for the people of Iran.”
While the letter gave him “a sense of acknowledgment and a bit of relief,” he said it also reinforced his responsibility to keep speaking up so that the sacrifices of young people like Erfan are never forgotten.
Majid Moghadasi struggles with silence and mental toll amid war
The tragedy has been made worse by the total lack of contact with family members still living in Iran, especially as the country remains in turmoil following the late February killing of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Moghadasi explained that internet shutdowns have made it impossible to know if his other relatives are alive or safe.
He shared, “Given the current situation in Iran, part of what has happened has been emotionally significant for us, but mentally we are not in a good place.”
Moghadasi described the daily struggle of the silence, saying, “We truly don’t know their condition or whether they are safe. This uncertainty is extremely stressful.”
