Israel threatens more strikes on Tehran (Video credit: @Cyrus_Intel)
A growing sense of fear and panic has taken hold across Iran, particularly in the capital, Tehran, as Israel continues to vow further military strikes. Amid threats of new airstrikes, many Iranians are fleeing major cities in search of safety, with traffic jams clogging roads leading north toward the Caspian Sea.On Monday, the Israeli military issued a chilling warning, urging residents of Tehran to evacuate "immediately."
"In the coming hours, the Israeli military will operate in the area, as it has in recent days throughout Tehran, to strike military infrastructure of the Iranian regime," the post read.A resident of Saadat Abad, an affluent neighbourhood in north Tehran that has reportedly been struck in recent days, described a night filled with explosions.
"Some were so powerful that the building shook," the resident told CNN anonymously, citing safety concerns. They described a chaotic scene as smoke poured into nearby buildings, and families rushed to the ground floors, struggling to calm frightened children.
Iran's capital is ill-prepared for aerial conflict. Unlike Israeli cities equipped with modern bomb shelters, Tehran must rely on improvised options, basements, tunnels, and shelters dating back to the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.
"There weren't any shelters built in Tehran," said Mehdi Chamran, chairman of Tehran's city council. "People went into basements. The metro could be used in an extreme crisis, but we would need to shut the system down."Despite the looming threat, much of daily life continues. Grocery store shelves remain stocked, and events go ahead as planned. But long lines for fuel have become common, with gas rationed and capped at 25 litres per customer.
Some ATMs are limiting cash withdrawals, residents say, adding to the tension.Cities beyond the capital are also showing signs of distress. In Shiraz, in south-central Iran, residents are lining up for gasoline and stockpiling essentials like water and diapers. Images show cars loaded with families and supplies heading toward rural areas.Nighttime in Tehran, however, tells a different story. Streets fall eerily quiet, many shops remain shuttered, and those who haven't left are increasingly reluctant to go to work.The situation follows a series of Israeli strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, including nuclear facilities in Natanz and Isfahan, which have heightened international concerns.
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