
Fear deepens in Tehran as Israel targets Iran's capital – DW – 06/17/2025
Residents of Tehran are in a constant state of alert as increased attacks on Iran's oil and gas sector could push the country's struggling economy into crisis.
Once bustling shopping streets in Tehran are now mostly deserted as residents flee Israeli attacks on the city.
In the few supermarkets that are open, locals stock up on food. Workers have seen customers leave stores in tears following massive explosions outside. A resident says evacuation orders make her fear that staying in the city is just too dangerous.
Israel's attacks have mostly focused on military facilities and key industrial sites around Tehran, plus nuclear facilities and a refinery in the South Pars gas field.
The attacks on Iran's vital oil and gas sector could push the country's economy, already struggling under Western sanctions and rising inflation, into crisis.
This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Int'l Business Times
38 minutes ago
- Int'l Business Times
Iran Threatens Response If US Crosses 'Red Line': Ambassador
The United States is "complicit" in Israel's strikes in Iran, Tehran's ambassador to the United Nations claimed Wednesday, vowing that his country would respond if Washington crosses a "red line". After decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, Israel says its surprise air campaign that began on June 13 is aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons -- an ambition Tehran denies. Iran said early Wednesday that it fired hypersonic missiles at Israel in the latest round of overnight strikes between the arch foes. US President Donald Trump has said that Washington has played no part in the bombing campaign by its ally Israel, but has also warned Iran that his patience is wearing thin. "We firmly believe that the United States is complicit in what Israel is doing," Iranian ambassador Ali Bahreini told a press conference. "And at any time, at any point, if we come to the conclusion that the United States is directly involved in attacks against Iran, we will start responding to the United States." He said Tehran was "vigilant" about Trump's "completely unwarranted" and "hostile" remarks. "There is a line which, if crossed, there should be a response on our side... once the red line is crossed, the response will come," Bahreini said. "We will respond strongly and we will stop aggression from any side, be it Israel or the United States," he told the UN correspondents' association. "And we have given a message to the United States that we will respond very firmly and will stop the aggression by anybody -- including the United States. Bahreini also said Tehran was "resolute in responding to Israeli attacks". "We will respond very, very, very seriously and strongly, and that is what we are doing now. Nobody should expect Iran to show any kind of restraint," he said. He also criticised the attitude of Western and European nations. "Not only they are not condemning the attacks and aggression, they are trying to justify the aggression," he said. Addressing the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday, Bahreini issued a warning to Israel's allies. "The Israeli regime's supporters, and the United States at the forefront, should know that supporting this regime means directly supporting international humanitarian and human rights law violations," he said. Iran said early Wednesday it had fired more missiles at Israel in the latest round of overnight strikes AFP


DW
an hour ago
- DW
Israel-Iran conflict poses major risk for the global economy – DW – 06/18/2025
The conflict between Israel and Iran could plunge the entire global economy into recession. Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz and has threatened to close one of the world's most important energy shipping routes. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passageway between Oman and Iran that is a critical route for global oil transportation with tankers carrying crude oil from the Gulf Region to Europe, Asia, and North America. Approximately one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz. That makes it the second most important oil route after the Strait of Malacca. And its disruption amid the Israel-Iran conflict could lead to significant increases in oil prices and widespread economic consequences. This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.


Int'l Business Times
an hour ago
- Int'l Business Times
Iranians Buying Supplies In Iraq Tell Of Fear, Shortages Back Home
Near the once-bustling Iraqi border crossing of Bashmakh, Iranian driver Fatah stocked up on rice, sugar and tea, staples that have become increasingly hard to get back home. Fatah -- who like others in this story is being identified by a pseudonym -- was among dozens of truck drivers waiting impatiently to cross back into Iran from Iraq's northern Kurdistan region, hauling not only their commercial cargo, but also essential goods for their families after days of Israeli attacks. AFP spoke with at least 30 Iranians near the Bashmakh crossing. They all refused to be interviewed on camera, and the few who agreed to describe life back home asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals back in Iran. "There are shortages of rice, bread, sugar and tea," Fatah said Tuesday. Finding fuel has also become a major problem, with long queues of cars waiting hours in front of gas stations hoping the fuel did not run out, the 40-year-old driver added. A long journey awaits Fatah, who must deliver his load of asphalt to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas about 1,700 kilometres (1,060 miles) away, before turning around and driving almost the same distance back to the western city of Marivan, where his family lives and which has so far been spared bombardment. But "my route passes near the Natanz nuclear facility", Fatah said, referring to one of Iran's underground uranium enrichment sites that Israel has struck several times since the start of its campaign last week. Israel launched a devastating surprise attack on Friday targeting Iran's military and nuclear sites and killing top commanders and scientists. Israel says its attacks are aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, an ambition Tehran denies. At least 224 people, including women and children, have been killed in the Israeli strikes, according to official figures. The assault has prompted retaliatory barrages of missiles from Iran that have killed at least 24 people in Israel, according to the prime minister's office. Aram, 28, keeps calling his wife, fearing for his family's safety after they had to flee their home when a strike hit a military site nearby in the city of Sanandaj. "My family is safe, but they had to move in with relatives in a village," Aram said. His wife told him that many families who lived near military sites in the area had been similarly displaced. The father of two said the shortages back home were mostly due to panic-stricken Iranians who rushed to markets to stockpile basic supplies. Back in Iran, car dealer Shwan recalled how Israeli jets struck several military sites near his city of Bukan in the west. "People are shocked and distraught, they don't know what they should do," the 35-year-old told AFP via a messaging app from inside Iran. "We have a major problem with bread shortages," he said. People were queuing at bakeries for hours to get loaves of bread, sometimes to no avail, Shwan said. "Sometimes four members of one family go around bakeries looking for bread," he added. "It is also difficult to find rice or oil," and many civil servants have not received their salaries yet, he said. Avin, a 38-year-old seamstress, told AFP via a messaging app that the war "has spread fear among residents", even though the bombs have not touched her town of Saqqez in northwest Iran. "Some families with children left to villages outside the city," she said. Like others, she fears more shortages to come. "Most of the provisions come from Tehran," which has seen a massive exodus and is also grappling with scarcity. "Because of this, the market in our city came to a standstill." Iranians described shortages of goods such as bread, rice and oil, and families leaving their homes for the countryside to avoid bombings AFP