War with Iran: Day 20

0:00This episode is brought to you by Collegard. Do you know what's really scary? Not screening for colon cancer when you turn 45. The Collegard test is non-invasive, requires no special proper time off work, and ships right to your door. In just three simple steps, Collegard takes the scare out of colon cancer screening. If you're 45 or older and at average risk, ask your healthcare provider about the Collegard test. Collegard is available by prescription only. Learn more or request a prescription today at Collegard.com slash screen. Welcome to Nightline. This is a special edition, war with Iran. I'm Judu Chang. On this episode, Reza Farahan, the outspoken Shaz of Sunset Star. Hello, we're Persian. I'm about 98.7 percent finer than any Persian man I've ever seen. And the good thing about me is I'm very, very humble. Opening up about his career in reality TV. If I can show people that we are so similar to other cultures

1:01just by being ourselves, that it would help. How he's juggled his multiple identities. It's like I have the trifecta of problematic titles under my belt. And his thoughts on the war as a refugee of the Iranian Revolution. For us, it felt like pure evil had been eliminated. Plus, an American F-35 stealth fighter believed to have been hit during a combat mission over Iran. The Pentagon confirming the plane made an emergency landing at a US base in the region. We have news on the pilot's condition. This while fierce attacks continue across the Middle East targeting gas and oil facilities and sending prices spiking in America and around the globe. James Longman reports from the region. While the conflict in Iran continues to rage on, we will shift focus each day to this single topic. War with Iran, nightline special coverage continues. This is day 20. Stay with us after the break.

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3:02and streaming on the ESPN app, presented by Capital One. Welcome back. Reality star Reza Farahan brings his half-Muslim, half-Jewish, but full throttle personality to the screen. Winning over viewers who he believes see themselves in his story. He left Iran as a boy and later immigrated to the US where he says things also felt pretty hostile. Farahan shared his thoughts on the Iran War with ABC's Jacqueline Lee. To us, he was 10 times worse than Osama Bin Laden, the equivalent of someone like Hitler, who has destroyed the country, killed so many people, and sponsors terrorism globally. For us, it felt like pure evil had been eliminated. Persian-born Reza Farahan, weighing in on the assassination of Iran's late Ayatollah Hamani. It was a moment to celebrate all of those people whose families lost protesters in January

4:04when there were uprisings in Iran. I don't know that many Americans were watching the videos of those parents burying their children. There were upwards of 50,000 protesters killed. The Shaws of Sunset reality TV star best known for his outspoken personality and razor sharp wit. The stomach, its plot, the legs, juicy, and the good thing about me is I'm very, very humble. Now stepping into a far more sober spotlight, chronicling his journey from child refugee of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. To coming of age as a half-Muslim, half-Jewish gay teen, navigating identity, family, and belonging in 1980s, California. In his new book, Memoirs of a Gay Shah, my story of family, fame, and becoming a king. What are your thoughts on the war with Iran? I wouldn't consider it a war with Iran. I would consider it a rescue mission for the people in Iran. I know many Persian-Iranian Democrats

5:05who are so thrilled that the prospect of a free Iran is something that they're allowing themselves to dream about. 52-year-old Reza calls his journey the fulfillment of the American dream, an immigrant success story, decades in the making. Nine seasons on Bravo's Shaws of Sunset turns the luxury real estate agent into a breakout personality, cultural figure, and fan favorite. Set among a tight-knit circle of affluent friends in Los Angeles, the show showcased the flamboyant lives of some children of Iranian refugees in a way America hadn't seen before. There was very little that I saw of people from Iran or Persians on TV unless they were representing a dictator or a terrorist. You'd never seen Persians just in their natural habitat doing their thing before. We are about family, food, community, and it started to build bridges immediately. Against the backdrop of Iran's Islamic legal code,

6:08where same-sex relationships are criminalized and punishable up to death. He says his focus on the show was LGBTQ plus visibility and challenging misconceptions. I said to my mom, if this show gives me two minutes to be on TV and show other young gay Middle Eastern kids that their families can love them, their friends can accept them, and that they have a place in this society and community, that's what I want to do because I actually came up with people that took their own lives and aren't here today because they weren't accepted. Married to his husband, Adam Neely, for over a decade, he's proud to represent the Middle Eastern LGBTQ plus community. But long before the stability he knows today, his life here began during a vacation to America he never returned home from. And then little rumblings of a revolution started and everyone back home kept saying, extend your vacation, things are really chaotic. Just hang out in America for a little while longer

7:09and a little while turned into a long while and that turned into a full-blown revolution and we never went back. The 1979 Iranian Revolution toppled the U.S.-backed government, established in Islamic Republic and set the stage for the 444-day Iran hostage crisis when 52 Americans were held captive. The Shah's arrival in Egypt complicates efforts to free the hostages. I would watch the news with my parents and everywhere we went, even when they were dropping me off at nursery school, people were siding them like, are you related to those people that are holding the U.S. hostages? It was a very, very hostile time to be here. While he says his mixed identities made him feel like an outsider in both Persian and in American spaces, he said he is deeply grateful for the opportunities he and his family have had. When I was naturalized as a U.S. citizen, it was one of the greatest days of my life because had I stayed in Iran, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt

8:11that I wouldn't be here, I would not be living. They would have killed me for being out, being loud, being gay, some combination thereof. These days, Reza has a new Bravo reality show, the Valley Persian style. Why are you dressed like you're going to a Halloween party later? This is my farming outfit. Reuniting him with fellow Shaws of Sunset Alums, MJ and Gigi. You're getting hot with me. I'm not getting hot with you. Why are you guys heated? You guys never fight. This is how see I'll go by the way. As for returning to his homeland, some things he says are worth waiting to see. I definitely dream to go and visit Iran, but I don't need to be the first one to go there. Maybe to be on the 17th or 18th flight of tourists that go in and come back, I want to make sure gay people aren't killed upon arrival. I want to make sure like we're good, good, right? I don't need to test the water. What do you think young Reza would think looking at you now?

9:16Oh my god, let me see the picture. This little boy right here, I would tell him that I'm going to make him really proud. I think he would be very proud of me. Our thanks to Jacqueline coming up, stunning news from Iran, a U.S. stealth fighter hit during a combat mission. We have news on the pilot after the break. From 30 for 30, podcast. I can't. I'm sorry. You can't tell I'm at God. Ryan Pada, senior defensive lineman from Miami, gunned out. The key to this case, it's right. It's right there. A hour before he died, he was on a phone arguing what's about. This might be a hit. You want the truth. They just want a conviction. Press the arrest. We had a killer amongst us murder at the U is in now. The Hulu original series Love Overboard is coming to Hulu and Hulu on Disney plus on March 26th.

10:1916 singles are headed to this super luxury yacht to fall in love. I'm a romantic. I want to find love. This is going to be the best time I've ever watched. But whatever you do not choose, we'll be going overboard. This is insane. What the games begin? Watch the new Hulu original series Love Overboard, March 26th, streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney plus for bundle subscribers to supply. Welcome back, sobering news from the war. For the first time, a U.S. F-35 stealth fighter jet believed to have been hit while on a combat mission over Iran. The $100 million plane making an emergency landing at a U.S. base. Our chief international correspondent, James Longman, is in Iraq. Tonight, for the first time since the war in Iran began, a U.S. stealth fighter jet is believed to have been hit by enemy fire. Tonight, sources tell ABC News and Air Force F-35 stealth fighter was flying a combat mission over Iran when it was hit. Sources say the pilot is in a stable condition tonight,

11:20after landing at a U.S. base in the region. The incident raises immediate questions about how a U.S. stealth fighter, nearly invisible to radar, could have been hit by hostile fire potentially by the Iranians. An urgent investigation is now underway. And tonight amid the shock over global oil prices and gas prices in the United States, Iran is intensifying its attacks on major energy facilities across this region, fueling even more uncertainty. Smoke billowing from Israel's largest oil refinery after it was hit by Iranian missile debris in video circulating online. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait hit yet again. Iran's retaliation comes after Israel bombed its section of the world's largest gas field. Overnight, President Trump denied any knowledge of Israel's decision to strike it, but an Israeli source tells ABC News, quote, all Israeli targets in Iran are aligned with the United States. The President was pressed today if he spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu about that Israeli attack. I told him, don't do that, and he won't do that.

12:21We didn't discuss. You know, we do, we're independent, we get along great, it's coordinated, but on occasion he'll do something and if I don't like it. And so we're not doing that anymore. Late today, Netanyahu said Israel would stop striking Iran's oil infrastructure at President Trump's request. And just two days after a top U.S. intelligence official resigned, saying there was no immediate threat from Iran. Today, Netanyahu denied Israel pressured the U.S. into this war. That is that Israel somehow dragged the U.S. into a conflict with Iran. Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do? Come on. Tonight, the escalating attacks are rattling global oil prices in the U.S. A gallon of gas has skyrocketed 97 cents since the President launched the war. It's now averaging $3.91 a gallon. The President today vowed to do what it takes to lower oil prices, again calling the war a quote, excursion to stop Iran. The President suggested he thought gas prices

13:21would have been even worse. I wanted to put out that fire. And I said, you know, if I do that, oil prices would go up. The economy would go down a little bit. I feel it would be worse. Much worse, actually. I thought there was a chance it could be much worse. It's not bad. And it's going to be over with pretty soon. And tonight, in an effort to secure the straight of Hormuz, the U.S. destroyed multiple Iranian Navy ships, saying they were threatening international shipping. And in another sign of this widening conflict in Lebanon tonight, the horrific moment caught on camera and Israeli air strike exploded just feet away from Russia today, correspondent. RT posting this video, the journalist suffered shrapnel wounds. RT claims Israel fired on the reporter's vehicle on purpose. Israel claims it was targeting a bridge in the South, used by Hezbollah. Our thanks to James. Join us tomorrow for another special edition of Nightline War with Iran. Our show was born during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979.

14:23We were there then. We are still here now. If you like this podcast, let us know with a review on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening. Check out, start here for more on the day's news and of course stick with us for updates throughout the day on ABC News Live. We'll be right back here tomorrow. Welcome back, Grace. You and your sister are here for a very exciting reason. Now in theaters. Hunters, you haven't told Dom to kill them both. Experience the most unhinged. I'm not playing! Bloody. Bloody! Diabolically twisted. Movie of the year. Tomorrow weaving, Catherine Newton, Elijah Ward, and Sarah Michelle Geller. Back for round two. Yup. But you're not too here at home. We did our under 1790 without Farad. Now playing only in theaters. Thanks for listening, America.