“Tehran on the Run: Panic, Power Cuts, and Packed Roads as Israeli Strikes Loom”

Tehran is in turmoil. With Israeli airstrikes intensifying and fear tightening its grip on the city, thousands of residents are fleeing Iran’s capital, desperate for safety as the threat of war inches closer to their doorsteps.

Despite official assurances, the images on the ground paint a different picture—jammed highways, empty ATMs, rising food prices, and sleepless nights. The Israeli military has issued evacuation warnings to civilians in targeted areas, though Iranian authorities have dismissed these alerts as “psychological warfare.”

But the people aren’t waiting for official confirmation. “There were no sirens, no shelters to go to,” said Gholamreza Mohammadi, a 48-year-old government employee. “Now it’s even worse—cash machines don’t work, food prices are rising, and my children can’t sleep from fear.”

Tehran, a city of over 10 million, is woefully unequipped for sustained conflict. While Iran boasts underground missile bunkers and military infrastructure, everyday civilians have little more than hope to shield them. In response to the crisis, the government has designated mosques, schools, and metro stations as makeshift shelters.

Still, many see escape as their only option. “We’re leaving for Damavand,” said Arshia, 29, an art teacher. “Every night there are attacks. Why should we suffer for the government’s policies?”

With no truce in sight, and civilians caught in the crossfire, the capital’s exodus continues. “We hid under our table,” Mohammadi added, “That’s all we have.”