As the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies, thousands of Iranian residents are fleeing the capital Tehran, triggering massive congestion on major exit roads and causing chaos at petrol stations and food stores.
By Monday, fuel queues stretched for kilometres across the city of over 15 million people, while many streets remained eerily quiet as families rushed to escape potential Israeli airstrikes. Northern regions by the Caspian Sea, typically tourist destinations, have now become crowded sanctuaries for fleeing residents.
A 35-year-old teacher, Zadshad, who fled with his family to Rasht, described their normally four-hour journey taking over a day due to blocked roads. “Shops here are overcrowded, and there’s already a food shortage,” he told dpa.
Accommodation prices in these safe zones have skyrocketed following the mass exodus. Meanwhile, others are attempting to flee the country altogether. One family heading for Turkey borrowed €5,000 to reach Istanbul.
In contrast, another official from Tehran, trying to reach Azerbaijan with his elderly mother, was forced to return due to severe fuel shortages and traffic.
The panic follows warnings from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who on Saturday vowed that Tehran would burn if missile attacks on Israeli civilians persisted.
Over 250 people have reportedly been killed in Iran from Israeli airstrikes since Friday, while Iranian missile attacks have claimed 24 lives in Israel.
With evacuation efforts hampered by blocked roads, petrol scarcity, and high costs, millions remain trapped, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis.
