Derry Buscarin

The train from Tehran takes about 24 hours.

When people arrive in Turkey, they're disoriented and relieved.

A woman named Ava, who asked not to be identified due to the risk of arrest in Iran, said it's just going to get worse for Iranians if an agreement is reached with the U.S.

We have not given the blood of 40,000 people to go back to that life, she says, referring to the protesters who were killed during street demonstrations in January.

The Iranian government says only 3,000 were killed.

But another man who participated in the protests but supports the government now says he wants the war to end so protesters can push for reforms within the current system.

For NPR News, I'm Derry Buscarin.

In Van, Turkey.