Sabria Dean’s Journey from East Texas to the Center of a Global Conflict

By DeVaughn Douglas
Forward Times
https://www.forwardtimes.com/

The latest escalation between the United States and Iran began a few weeks ago when American and Israeli forces launched a series of coordinated airstrikes targeting military sites, infrastructure, and leadership inside Iran. The conflict is rooted in decades of political tension between the nations. News of the campaign was announced through a public statement from President Donald Trump and quickly spread through breaking news alerts and live television coverage showing explosions in Tehran, turning a long-standing geopolitical rivalry into an active conflict playing out in real time.

Thousands of miles away, Sabria Dean did not learn about it from a headline.

Dean, a point guard from Mineola, Texas, was in the middle of her rookie professional season overseas after a standout career at Lamar University, where she finished as one of the program’s all-time leading scorers with more than 1,700 points, earned Southland Conference Freshman of the Year honors, and was a multiple-time All-Conference selection. Her play caught the attention of teams overseas, eventually leading her to Esteghlal, a professional team based in Iran.

The East Texas native had spent the previous six months adjusting to life in a new country, building relationships with teammates, and embracing an experience she admits she never initially imagined for herself. What began as an opportunity to extend her basketball career quickly became something much larger, placing her at the center of a global conflict few Americans ever witness firsthand.

She was sitting at breakfast with her teammates.

“They were joking, saying call your president, tell him no war, no bombs,” Dean said.

At first, it felt like a joke. But when her teammates asked her to call home and check American news, the tone shifted.

“I FaceTimed my mom and asked her to turn the camera,” she said. “The headline was like, war or peace, potential strikes this weekend. And I was like, oh… this might be for real this time.”

Minutes later, it was.

Within moments of ending the call, the situation shifted from speculation to reality. Explosions began ringing out nearby, loud enough to shake the ground beneath her feet.

From Mineola, Texas to the Middle East

“It was so loud,” Dean said to Forward Times. “I’m almost positive the ground moved under me. It felt like everything slowed down.”

The team rushed outside, moving into open space. Dean did what many people her age would do after reaching a momentary sense of safety. She pulled out her phone and recorded what was happening. Videos of her and her teammates laughing during the chaos quickly began to spread online.

For many watching later, the reaction raised questions. Comments flooded in asking why they were laughing and why they were outside during a bombing. The second was a question Dean had in the moment as well.

“I wanted to know why we were going outside too,” she said, laughing. “But then they told me they’re going to target buildings, not open fields. So going outside was actually safer than staying inside the hotel. People were focused on us joking, but in that moment you don’t really have time to sit in fear. You react how you react, and then you figure out what to do next.”

Fear came first, but it did not last long.

“You don’t have time to panic,” Dean said. “You have to figure out what to do next.”

The plan became clear quickly. She needed to leave. After months of hearing conversations about rising tensions and the possibility of conflict, the reality of bombs dropping made the decision immediate. Dean reached out to her team’s general manager and made it clear she was ready to go.

“I told them I’ve stuck it out as long as I can,” she said. “But this is too serious.”

She packed her belongings, gathered her passport, and waited for instructions while sitting with teammates one last time. Even in that moment, the environment reflected the same hospitality she had experienced throughout her stay.

“They made tea,” she said. “Everywhere you go, they’re going to offer you tea. They’re so nice. I really do believe they would give you the clothes off their back. They treat each other with so much care, and it’s even more with visitors. They always want to make sure you’re comfortable.”

Within hours, she was on the move.

The journey out of the country began with a 13-hour drive to Turkey, a route she did not even realize was possible before that day. From there, she navigated connecting flights, long layovers, and limited communication due to unstable internet access. When she finally reached Turkey, her phone filled with missed calls and messages from family members who had been watching events unfold from thousands of miles away. By the time her plane began its descent into Dallas, the weight of everything she had experienced still had not fully settled.

“I saw Dallas on the screen and said, man, I’m almost there,” she said. “But I didn’t want to jinx it. I needed to step off the plane first.”

When she did, her family was waiting. After six months away, the moment was simple. A hug from her mother. Her brother nearby. Her dog back in her arms. Then came something even more familiar.

“I went to [Raising] Canes, and I didn’t even know about this Post Malone, Dallas Cowboys-themed Canes. I said, yeah, I’m home for sure. This is Texas for sure. I knew I was home,” she said, laughing.

The experience left her with more than just a story about surviving a conflict. It reshaped how she sees the world and the people in it. Despite the political tensions between governments, Dean is quick to separate leadership from everyday life.

“The main thing they wanted me to know is that any hate we’ve ever heard about their country toward ours is not from the people,” she said. “They love Americans.”

During her time there, she found a level of generosity that stood out.

“I can’t get over the kindness. It’s an overwhelming kindness and generosity that I’ve never felt before, quite honestly,” she said. “They really take care of each other and anyone who comes there.”

She also embraced the culture in ways that surprised even her, especially when it came to food. Her favorite dish became ghormeh sabzi, a traditional herb-based stew served with rice.

“It is so good. It’s almost like greens, but a little finer chopped up with chunks of beef in it. It may not look the most appetizing, but I was there for the full experience, and I’m glad I did, because that dish is delicious. That and kebab. I ate kebab every day.”

Now back in Texas, Dean is focused on what comes next. She remains open to continuing her professional career overseas, staying in contact with her agent while taking time to be home. If conditions were to stabilize, she would even consider returning.

“The only reason I left was because of what was happening,” she said. “Look, when I first heard about the opportunity to go to Iran, I was scared, but you can’t always believe what you see. Some of it is propaganda. I took a chance, and I’m glad I did.”

For now, the season she started remains unfinished. A finals series interrupted. A championship left undecided.

But what she carries with her goes far beyond basketball. In a moment when much of the world sees conflict through headlines and political narratives, Dean’s experience offered something different. A firsthand look at the people behind the place.

“We always hear that they’re trying to get us, they’re trying to bomb us,” she said. “And then I get over there and we’re the ones bombing them. That was crazy to experience firsthand.”