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The Guardian
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘There's a smell of death in the air': chaos in Tehran as residents try to flee or find shelter
It was just past 4pm when Nahid's windows began to shake. An Israeli bomb hit a building nearby – he could not see where – and soon his house began to fill up with smoke. It was the third day of Israeli bombing of Iran and the situation in Tehran was just getting worse. 'This is a massacre. The blasts haven't stopped. Children are crying and we fear many civilians have been killed. There's a smell of death in the air. I can't stop crying,' Nahid*, a 25-year-old finance analyst at an e-commerce company in Tehran, told the Guardian via text. Residents began to flee Tehran and head towards the countryside on Sunday as Israeli attacks on the Iranian capital escalated, with bombs raining down on the residential buildings and government buildings alike. Authorities gave no official death toll, but at least 138 people have been killed and hundreds wounded by strikes on Iran since Friday. The bombing started early on Friday morning when Israel launched hundreds of strikes in what it said was an operation aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran quickly responded with a barrage of ballistic missiles and has continued to hit Israel, killing 10 people, including three children, in strikes on residential buildings on Saturday night. As the conflict continued to escalate, Iranian authorities announced they would open Tehran's metro stations and schools to use as shelters. 'Unfortunately, we in Tehran and in other cities do not have shelters,' said Mehdi Chamran, the chair of the city council, as he urged civilians to use tunnels and basements as makeshift bomb shelters. The ferocity of the Israeli assault on Tehran caught both Iran's citizens and government by surprise, as Israel's jets flew with virtual freedom over Iranian skies. While Iranian missiles flew towards Israel, its military seemed incapable of stopping Israeli attacks. 'We are not confident mosques, schools or metro stations will be safe. What if we get buried under? My sisters and I are going to urge my parents and neighbours to leave home,' Nahid said. There were scenes of chaos on Tehran's streets as residents rushed to buy food amid bombings before shops shut. 'People are running around in the streets and screaming. It's extremely dangerous to step outside now but we don't have an option,' said Reza*, a students from the University of Tehran. The 21-year-old described long lines at petrol stations as he and others filled their cars before making the journey out of the city. While residents queued for fuel, or for cash at ATMs, a sense of panic began to spread as the strikes were joined by car-bombings, reportedly targeting Iranian nuclear scientists. People struggled to contact their loved ones as Iran's mobile phone network failed, giving only sporadic coverage. Experts said Israel's attack had come at a critical point for the Iranian government, which has been rocked by protests in recent years and by a deepening economic crisis. 'This war comes at a most acute situation domestically, because we have the gravest economic crisis for decades,' said Dr Ali Fathollah-Nejad, the founder and director of the Center for Middle East and Global Order. Prices of food and other essential goods have skyrocketed over the past year as the Iran's currency, the rial, rapidly depreciated. Trump quickly signed an executive order after retaking office in January that tightened sanctions against Iran, choking off oil exports from the already beleaguered economy. Fathollah-Nejad said the economic crisis had been one of the key factors alongside military pressure that pushed the Iranian government towards diplomacy with the US, with which it had been negotiating over its nuclear programme for the past couple of months. Online, Iranians took to social media to mock the government's lack of preparedness, sharing videos of top military officials saying Israel would never dare to attack Iran. Officials had previously trumpeted Iran's ability to deter strikes through its fierce military capabilities. Within Iran, state TV replayed footage of Iranian strikes on Israel and played down the impact of Israeli attacks. The feeling of being under attack has prompted a sense of unity among some Iranians. 'We have been hearing the rumours of regime change, especially by the Israelis and Americans. It seems more like a joke,' said Hadi*, a Tehran resident who is in his 60s. He added that among his friends, those who were initially against Iran developing nuclear weapons now felt the country needed a an atomic arsenal to defend itself from Israel. 'Many Iranians may criticise the government and object to the strategies, but history has proven that Iranians unite when attacked by a foreign country,' Hadi said. * Some names have been changed
The Guardian
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Morning Mail: 80 dead in Gaza bombing, Coalition talks begin, doctors' gene genius
Morning everyone. Israeli bombing of targets in Gaza have left 80 people dead overnight while talks on a possible ceasefire faltered during Donald Trump's Middle East tour. The first talks between the new Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, and the Nationals have begun with sticking points including the rural party's opposition to net zero and demand for more representation in the shadow ministry. We assess the task ahead of another new leader, Larissa Waters for the Greens, and examine what the new brooms might mean for Australian politics. In more cheerful news, doctors have edited the genes of a baby born with a severe genetic disorder. Puggle puzzle | When echidna mothers nurse their young, known as puggles, the microbiome of their pouch changes to protect their babies in their first weeks of life, new research has found. Net loss? | The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, says progress on a new cooperation agreement with the Nationals will take time, promising productive talks amid an internal push to ditch net zero policies and even end the longstanding coalition with the Liberals. Cruelty crisis | A surge in cruelty to horses in the past 12 months has brought warnings from the RSPCA that it can't investigate the complaints unless it receives more funding. Snapchat abuser | An 11-year-old Australian girl added random people on Snapchat as part of an informal competition with her best friend to get a high score in the app. One of the people she added went on to sexually abuse her. Logging off | The New South Wales forestry agency's forest logging division has posted a half-yearly loss of almost $15m, prompting renewed questions about the industry's economic viability. Gaza bombing | Israel launched a new and intense wave of airstrikes and artillery shelling on targets across Gaza overnight, killing at least 80 people, as faltering talks on a new ceasefire continued in Qatar and Donald Trump said he wanted to see the US 'make' the devastated territory 'into a freedom zone'. Celebrities are leading the opposition to Trump, it appears, with Ben & Jerry's founder Ben Cohen arrested (pictured) for protesting about US complicity in the Gaza blockade and Robert De Niro telling the Cannes film festival 'we have to stop' Trump. Finally, Bruce Springsteen launched a tirade against the president at his opening UK show in Manchester. Gene genius | Doctors in the US have become the first to treat a baby with gene-editing therapy after diagnosing the child with a severe genetic disorder in what the team said would 'utterly transform the way we approach medicine'. Recession risk | The boss of JP Morgan has said a US recession is still possible amid the fallout of Trump's tariffs, while Walmart said it would have to raise its prices to cover the costs of the tariffs. Trump, meanwhile, has admonished Apple over the firm's reported plans to source production of US-bound iPhones from India. Rights wrong | A group of leading lawyers has submitted an official complaint to Fifa alleging football's governing body has failed to follow its own human rights rules in relation to the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Barbie downsize | Barbie dolls have seen their high heels shrink to flatter shoes over the years amid the advance of women in work, according to a study by podiatrists in Australia and the UK. Newsroom edition: three leadership contests and the future of Australian politics Reged Ahmad talks to head of newsroom Mike Ticher, national news editor Jo Tovey and chief political correspondent Tom McIlroy about whether changes in leadership for the Liberals and Greens could mean a change in our politics. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ It's said that Larissa Waters was reluctant to become leader of the Greens ahead of some more high-profile names. But she is regarded by colleagues as smart, warm and friendly, and – perhaps crucially – is seen as pragmatic by Labor counterparts with whom she will have to deal if she wants to help the government be bolder. Our chief political correspondent, Tom McIlroy, assesses where she might take the party. Next Wednesday, more than 1 million children across Australia will read The Truck Cat as part of the annual National Simultaneous Storytime devised to improve children's reading habits. Clare Miller talks to the book's author, Deborah Frenkel, and illustrator, Danny Snell, about their delight in being chosen. 'It's mind-blowing, really … it's hard to get your head around how big it actually is,' Snell says. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Women's Origin | Two tries from Olivia Kernick have helped NSW claim the women's State of Origin series with a game to spare after powering the Blues to a 26-6 victory over Queensland in a rain-soaked Sydney last night. Cycling | Australia's Kaden Groves won the sixth stage of the Giro d'Italia in a sprint finish overnight but he won't get any points after the stage was neutralised following a huge crash in wet conditions which also involved his compatriot Jai Hindley. Women's A-League | Emily Husband, one of only two female coaches in the league, can create history when her unfancied Central Coast team take on Melbourne Victory in Sunday's grand final. Women's rugby union | Ilona Maher, the American rugby union star and one of the most influential figures in women's sport, is in Canberra this week as the USA Eagles face the Wallaroos in the Pacific Four Series tomorrow. Golf | The US PGA is under way in North Carolina with Kiwi Ryan Fox among the early frontrunners. At the time of sending the Morning Mail, Australian golfer Cam Davis was leading at 6-under, with three holes still to play in his first round. Follow the action live. Jacob Greber has emerged as the favourite to replace Laura Tingle as presenter of the ABC's 7.30, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Credit agencies have warned Victoria's government to rein in spending or risk a downgrade, the Fin Review reports. Concern about dangerous driving around schools in Canberra is leading to calls for the speed limit to be reduced to 30km/h, the Times reports. The family of AFL legend Robert Walls has opened up to the Herald Sun about his decision to use Victoria's assisted dying laws to end his own life after a cancer diagnosis. Sydney | Judgment expected at 10.15am in Ben Roberts-Smith's appeal against defamation findings. Bundaberg | Second court mention for man charged with helping caravan 'terror plotter' flee Australia by boat. Dubbo | NSW public hearing into the impact of renewable energy zones on rural communities and industries. If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. And finally, here are the Guardian's crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. 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