This study examines the complex factors shaping community-building experiences of Iranian immigrants in Toronto, exploring challenges to social cohesion within the Iranian diaspora. Through a transnational perspective, we investigate how diaspora politics, pre-migration networks, and issues of trust influence community formation. Our theoretical framework combines Askins' (2016) concept of emotional citizenry with social capital theory to analyz the emotional and social dimensions of belonging across diverse transnational networks. We employ a mixed-method approach including 54 interviews with established Iranian immigrant men and women, sociodemographic surveys, and ethnographic observations. Our findings reveal that participants generally maintain fragmented connections to Toronto's broader Iranian community, instead fostering belonging through transnational kinship networks that integrate pre-migration relationships with post-settlement connections. The diversity within the Iranian diaspora and home country politics emerges as significant transnational factors affecting community-building. Diaspora organizations promoting cultural continuity (e.g., Gilaki cultural associations) and hybrid neighbourhood practices (e.g., sharing herbs, celebrating Nowruz) serve as important sites for negotiating Iranian Canadian identities. Additionally, cultural organizations and digital platforms enable transnational placemaking, preserving heritage while facilitating integration. This research advances understanding of diaspora politics and transnational community-building by highlighting how Iranians in Toronto navigate the tensions between collective cultural priorities and individual autonomy. It contributes to broader discussions on diaspora’ role in shaping multicultural societies.