Thousands of residents have been leaving Tehran as tensions between Israel and Iran intensify. Major roads out of the city have been packed since the weekend, with long queues forming at petrol stations while many streets in the capital remain deserted.
The exodus followed a warning from Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, who threatened that Tehran would face serious consequences if missile attacks on Israeli civilians continued. On Monday, he wrote on X that residents of Tehran would soon pay the price for the deadly strikes on Israel.
Amid rising fear, many Iranians are fleeing with only essential items, heading east to safer areas. Others are trying to leave the country altogether. Northern towns near the Caspian Sea, usually tourist hotspots, are now crowded with displaced people. Accommodation prices in those areas have surged sharply.
Zadshad, a 35-year-old teacher, fled with his family to Rasht, a city near the sea. What was once a four-hour trip took them more than a day due to heavy traffic. He described overcrowded shops and food shortages: “Living in these conditions is really hard.”
Another family, hoping to reach their daughter in Istanbul, borrowed €5,000 to journey to Turkey. “We’re just waiting for the roads to clear and trying to find the safest route,” said the 60-year-old father.
Not everyone has been able to escape. A Tehran resident and his elderly mother had planned to travel to Azerbaijan after receiving advice from a relative in the U.S. But fuel scarcity, traffic congestion, and his mother’s poor health forced them to return. “We’re waiting for a better time to try again,” he said.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have continued to target military zones in western Iran, close to the border, adding to the fear and chaos gripping the capital.
