Tension rises in major Iranian cities as people flee following threats of more attacks and violence.
Roads are blocked, fuel is scarce, and families are struggling to find safety and shelter.
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As tensions between Iran and Israel intensify, thousands of Iranians are reportedly fleeing the capital, Tehran, in a desperate attempt to seek safety. The mass exodus began shortly after Israel launched a series of retaliatory airstrikes, causing widespread fear and uncertainty.
According to eyewitness accounts, roads leading out of Tehran have become severely congested. On Monday, long queues of vehicles stretched for kilometers, especially near petrol stations. In contrast, many major streets within the city of over 15 million residents remained unnaturally quiet, a reflection of growing anxiety among the population.
The situation worsened after Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, issued a strong warning to Iran and its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He cautioned that continued missile attacks on Israeli civilian areas would provoke devastating consequences. “Tehran will burn if these attacks persist,” Katz said on Saturday. In a follow-up message on X (Twitter) posted Monday, he added, “The residents of Tehran will pay the price for attacks that killed civilians in Israel.”
The fear of further strikes has prompted many to flee with only essential belongings. While the western region of Iran remains under intense military pressure, especially along the border where airstrikes have been concentrated since Friday, people are moving toward the east and north of the country in search of safety.
Northern Iran, particularly around the Caspian Sea, has become a temporary haven. The region, usually popular among tourists, is now filled with families escaping the violence. One such family includes 35-year-old schoolteacher Zadshad, who managed to reach Rasht with his wife and children.
“Our journey usually takes about four hours, but this time it took more than a day because of the heavy traffic,” he told dpa. “Now that we’ve arrived, it’s no better. The shops are overcrowded and there is a shortage of food.”
As demand for shelter surged, local accommodation prices have skyrocketed, making it even harder for displaced families to settle. “Living in these conditions is really hard,” Zadshad said, expressing frustration over their current challenges.
Other families are trying to leave the country entirely. One man, traveling with his wife and son, said they are attempting to reach Istanbul. “I borrowed 5,000 euros from a friend so that we can travel to Istanbul to see our daughter in the hope that the situation will calm down a bit,” he said. “At the moment, we’re waiting until the streets are a little emptier and are thinking about the best border crossing to get to Turkey.”
However, fleeing is not an option for everyone. One official in Tehran, acting on his brother’s advice from the United States, tried to escape towards Azerbaijan with his 82-year-old mother.
“But because of the heavy traffic, the petrol shortage, and my mother’s poor health, we had to turn back. Now we are waiting for better conditions to try again,” he said.
With no end in sight to the rising hostilities, the humanitarian crisis continues to grow. As more families are forced to choose between risking their safety at home or facing the uncertainty of life on the road, the situation remains dire for many across the country.
