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Irish Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Inside Tehran: a city choked in gridlock and dread
Israel gave little notice in its order to evacuate District 3, the area of central Tehran that houses state television studios and other government buildings. Within seconds of the Israeli military posting its warning to civilians, many locals fielded a deluge of calls from loved ones checking they had heard the news. 'Let's shut off the gas and water before evacuating!' one woman shouted as she ran, suitcase in hand, down the stairs of her building. 'Hurry up, Mum, we don't have time,' another urged her elderly mother. READ MORE An hour later, fighter jets were seen over Tehran's suburbs; within minutes, the Iranian state broadcaster was hit. Smoke rises from the rubble of an Iranian state media building in Tehran on Monday. Photograph: AFP via Getty Images After four days of bombing, many of Tehran's 10 million people were already trying to flee the capital. Main roads out of the city were at a standstill. Queues for petrol stretched for miles. The stock exchange and historic Grand Bazaar had shut. Mina tried to escape to her daughter's house east of Tehran, but had to return home after some seven hours of gridlock. Hassan, a driver trying to ferry someone to safety out of the city, said it took nearly two hours 'to cover a road that normally takes five minutes'. Authorities have been urging people to stay put. They slowed internet speeds to control the information flow, encouraging people to follow official news channels and to ignore messages about evacuation, which they said were part of the enemy's 'psychological warfare'. The strikes have so far killed more than 200 people and injured hundreds more, according to the health ministry, and photos of civilian casualties circulate widely on social media. Many have fled to metro stations used as makeshift bomb shelters. Workers in banks, hospitals, and police and military stations have been directly ordered to stay in the city. 'We're stuck here,' said Farhad, a taxi driver whose wife, a bank employee, was told to stay around on high alert for potential cyber attacks. Food shelves are well stocked, but petrol and diesel shortages are a major concern. Authorities are restricting vehicles to a maximum of 30 litres of fuel. Officials say supply has not been cut and insist it will not be in the future. Several of the city's neighbourhoods lost water supply on Sunday after an Israeli strike hit a major water pipeline, flooding a key thoroughfare and killing two civilians. Even government officials have criticised the information lockdown, which has caused panic among people unable to contact their families or find routes out of the capital. Deputy communications minister Ehsan Chitsaz said on X that he wished internet access had not been restricted but seemed to imply that was down to the security services. 'It is not up to the ministry,' he said. Despite many streets being orderly, some Tehranis are calling for troops to be deployed as government warnings about Israel's collaborators fuel paranoia. 'It scares me that there is no strong police presence in the city,' said one resident. 'At this time, there should be checkpoints everywhere in Tehran for us to feel secure.' Many locals have no idea how to respond to the attacks. Tehran was targeted in the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, but since then it has grown into a modern megacity with high-rises, shopping malls and a vibrant food culture – not a city accustomed to sirens and shelters. For children and young adults like Maryam's 26-year-old daughter, the reality of war is new and hard to comprehend. 'She just can't understand the concept of war and is so scared,' Maryam said. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2025
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Humiliated Kim fuming as new 5,000-ton warship is ‘CRUSHED' in catastrophic launch during grand unveiling ceremony
TYRANT Kim Jong-un has slammed a "serious accident" at the launch of his new 5,000-ton warship after it was "crushed" and left lying on its side. The humiliated North Korean dictator branded the catastrophic launch as a "criminal act" which could not be tolerated. 8 8 8 8 The rare admission of failure came after the fuming despot witnessed the disastrous spectacle in the port city of Chongjin on Wednesday. Mortified Kim watched on in horror as the mega vessel appeared to go off balance during its launch ceremony. The furious leader said it brought shame to the nation's prestige, and vowed to punish those found responsible. North Korea's state broadcaster said a malfunction caused the stern of the colossal destroyer to slide prematurely into the water. It crushed parts of the hull and left the bow stranded on the shipway. But the broadcaster did not report any casualties or injuries as a result of the blunder. Raging Kim branded the failed launch a "criminal act" and blamed the mishap on "absolute carelessness" by multiple state institutions. He added that the "irresponsible errors" of those involved will be dealt with. The seething dictator demanded that repairs on the warship be completed before June this year. It is currently unclear what punishment exactly the hermit kingdom's leader will unleash upon those deemed at fault. US Demonstrates Military Power Over Korean Peninsula Amid Rising Tensions The menacing vessel is now lying on its side in the water according to South Korean military analysis. Naval analysts say the damage done to the vessel in such a launch malfunction could be "catastrophic". State media did not immediately release images of the accident. The launch failure marks a huge setback for Kim, who has recently been ramping up naval modernization in a stark warning to the west. Last month, the tyrant unveiled North Korea's largest naval destroyer yet that could house a vertical launchpad capable of firing nuclear missiles. 8 8 Dubbed the Choe Hyon, it is believed to be the same 5,000-ton class ship as the one which spectacularly failed on Wednesday. The mighty 5,000-tonne warship is expected to substantially boost North Korea 's naval capabilities. North Korea's state media - which also serves as Kim's leading propaganda machine - reported that the vessel was equipped with the "most powerful weapons". The ship is named after anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter Choe Hyon, the report said. And at over 5,000 tonnes, the destroyer is set to become the largest warship in North Korea's naval arsenal, surpassing the current largest vessel, a 1,360-tonne frigate. It was previously reported that North Korea's new class of warship was able to accommodate dozens of vertical launch cells to carry missiles that its military has already developed. Military analysts say these launchers will be capable of firing guided cruise missiles, which North Korea says could carry nuclear warheads. Footage from North Korea's state-run television KRT showed Kim arriving in Nampho with his daughter Ju Ae after travelling to the western port city by train. Kim, in a speech from the launch reported by KCNA, said the warship would be handed over to the navy and go into service early next year. 8
