Thousands flee Tehran as conflict with Israel continues to escalate
TEHRAN — The Iranian capital Tehran, home to around 10 million people and one of the biggest cities in the Middle East, has seen a mass exodus as the conflict with Israel intensifies.
Early on Tuesday, the city's bustling downtown began to empty, with many shops closed and the historic Grand Bazaar shuttered, something that had not occurred since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A partial evacuation order from the Israeli military was issued to 330,000 people living in the centre of Tehran early on Monday. However, many had already begun to flee following attacks at the weekend.
Traffic jams stretched for kilometers on roads leading out of the city, with many heading toward the Caspian Sea region.
Long lines also formed at gas stations as residents scrambled to get fuel, with limits on 25 litres of fuel per car now in place.
Later on Monday, US President Donald Trump posted a message on his social media site Truth Social calling for the immediate evacuation of the Iranian capital.
"Everybody should immediately evacuate Tehran," Trump posted, later explaining that he issued the statement because "I just want people to be safe."
Despite this growing exodus, Iranian officials maintained that the situation was under control, offering no clear guidance for the public.
Meanwhile, flights bringing evacuees from Israel have landed in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, making them among the first countries to repatriate citizens amid the escalating conflict.
Slovak authorities confirmed the arrival of the first evacuation flight late Monday, carrying 73 passengers, including 25 Slovak tourists and five family members of Slovak diplomats based in Tel Aviv.
Poland also announced plans to evacuate its citizens from Israel, with operations scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
India has also evacuated an undisclosed number of students from Tehran.
The Indian Foreign Ministry said that some nationals have been assisted in leaving Iran through the border with Armenia. Those who can arrange their own transportation have been urged to go as soon as possible.
Around 50,000 Israelis are believed to be stranded overseas, with some reports putting that number closer to 100,000.
This follows the closure of Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport on Friday as Israel launched airstrikes against Iran's nuclear program, a situation that has left the airport closed "until further notice".
Israeli authorities have urged citizens stranded abroad not to rush to Larnaca or Athens in hopes of returning home sooner, as Israel's airspace remains indefinitely closed to both arrivals and departures.
The country's National Security Council also issued a warning against attempting to reach Israel by land through Jordan or Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, with both countries now under Level 4 travel warnings, advising immediate departure for those already there.
Meanwhile, two explosions were heard across Tehran early on Tuesday afternoon, with black smoke rising from the northern part of the city near Iranian state television's headquarters and key government offices. — Euronews
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