Thousands of Tehran residents are evacuating the Iranian capital following the intensification of hostilities between Israel and Iran, with eyewitnesses reporting massive traffic congestion on exit routes.
Petrol stations across the city have seen queues stretching for kilometers, while many streets in the normally bustling metropolis of over 15 million people have become eerily deserted as residents flee to safer regions.
Israeli Threats Trigger Mass Exodus
The exodus follows stark warnings from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who declared on Saturday that "Tehran will burn" if Iranian missile attacks on Israeli civilian areas continue. In a statement posted on social media platform X on Monday, Katz emphasized that Tehran residents would "pay the price" for attacks resulting in Israeli civilian casualties.
Many families have packed only essential belongings and headed eastward, which is still considered relatively safe. Meanwhile, western regions near military installations along the border have endured intense Israeli airstrikes since Friday.
Refuge Areas Face Resource Shortages
Northern areas along the Caspian Sea, typically popular holiday destinations, have become improvised refugee zones. Zadshad, a 35-year-old teacher who fled with his family to Rasht near the sea, reported that their normally four-hour journey took more than a day due to congested evacuation routes.
"Now that we've arrived, it's no better. The shops are overcrowded and there is a shortage of food," he told reporters. Accommodation prices in these refuge areas have skyrocketed since hostilities began, adding financial strain to those seeking safety.
Another family attempting to reach Turkey described borrowing 5,000 euros (approximately 5,770 dollars) from a friend to travel to Istanbul. "We're waiting until the streets are a little emptier and are thinking about the best border crossing to get to Turkey," the father explained.
Not all residents have been able to escape. One Tehran official attempted to drive toward Azerbaijan with his 82-year-old mother on Sunday but was forced to return due to "heavy traffic, petrol shortage, and my mother's poor health."
The situation remains fluid as tensions between the two nations continue to escalate, with Israeli airstrikes targeting military installations and Iranian leadership responding with threats of retaliation.
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