Tehran Empties as Citizens Flee for Safety
Tehran has become increasingly emptied following two weeks of intense and destructive bombardment by the United States and Israel. Some Iranian residents who initially harboured hopes for regime change when the country’s supreme leader was killed have now grown weary of the conflict.
According to reporting by The New York Times, a forty-something businessman living in Tehran, the Iranian capital, stated that explosions frequently wake him around 5 or 5:30 in the morning. Speaking through voice messages on condition of anonymity due to fear of retaliation, the man said that whilst supermarkets, bakeries, and some shops remain open, most streets in the capital are now empty and deserted.
At night, the city is entirely controlled by security forces, he said, and no one dares to protest. Some demonstrations held this week in Tehran are in support of the Iranian government, mourning military commanders killed in strikes by American and Israeli forces.
The businessman added that some Iranian citizens believe the war has actually facilitated the transition to a new supreme leader, which the regime might have found difficult to accomplish without the conflict.
Since the war began, President Trump has provided little clarity on how a new government could be formed in Iran.
Tehran has experienced relentless attacks, including strikes on checkpoints guarded by Basij militia members, amongst dozens of other locations. At least 19 historic buildings and cultural sites in the city have suffered severe damage from American and Israeli strikes, Iranian media reported on Saturday, citing the country’s cultural heritage ministry.
More than 1,348 civilian deaths have occurred in Iran, according to the country’s representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeed Iravani, this week. Approximately 3.2 million people are estimated to have been internally displaced, according to initial assessments by the UN refugee agency.
Meisam, 41, a resident and poet who requested his surname not be disclosed due to fear of retaliation, said on Saturday that in some areas, the city appears normal, but a heavy and lifeless atmosphere pervades the streets.
Most who remain in their homes choose to stay indoors, whilst others have fled to the Caspian Sea after days of feeling frustrated, anxious, and trapped. Some businesses remain open, but many have closed or are struggling, he said.
Despite these difficulties, some people still hope the government will fall and be replaced by a new administration, though the bombing campaign, coupled with rampant inflation and widespread economic hardship, has left people feeling anxious.
“No one knows what will happen,” he said. “And we are all caught between despair and hope.”