Tehran has turned into a ghost city, with several deaths reported following Israeli airstrikes.
Bombings are ongoing, and smoke can be seen rising from various parts of the capital. The city center is emptying rapidly. Many shops remain closed, including the city’s Grand Bazaar. Such scenes are extremely rare, previously witnessed only during major anti-government protests or at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A different picture emerges at gas stations and bakeries, where crowds of people are waiting patiently. Long lines have formed at fuel stations across Tehran. Traffic is also heavy on roads leading west of the city, as many residents appear to be fleeing toward the Caspian region. The wave of departures intensified after former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a message on Truth Social urging Iranians to evacuate immediately:
“Everyone must evacuate Tehran immediately!” he wrote.
