Thousands Flee Iran After Israeli Attack
Petrol stations, queues stretched for kilometres in places on Monday, while other streets were eerily quiet in the city of more than 15 million inhabitants.
Thousands are currently fleeing Iran following conflict with Israel.
Information gathered revealed that this has caused massive congestion on the exit roads of the capital.
At petrol stations, queues stretched for kilometres in places on Monday, while other streets were eerily quiet in the city of more than 15 million inhabitants.
On Saturday, Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning to Iran and its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying that Tehran will burn if Iranian missile attacks on Israeli civilian areas continue.
Katz wrote on X on Monday that residents of Tehran will pay the price for attacks that killed civilians in Israel.
Many people packed only the bare essentials and fled to the east of the country, which is still considered comparatively safe.
In the west, where many military installations are located on the border, the full force of the Israeli air force has been in evidence since Friday, with an onslaught of strikes.
Northern areas on the Caspian Sea, which are generally popular with holidaymakers, have become a place of refuge.
Zadshad, a 35-year-old teacher, was one of those who fled with his family to Rasht, a town near the sea.
The journey that normally takes four hours took them more than a day on the choked roads leading away from the capital.
“Now that we’ve arrived, it’s no better. The shops are overcrowded and there is a shortage of food he told dpa.
Prices for accommodation in such areas shot up after the start of the hostilities.
Zadshad feared a war away from home with all the additional strains: “Living in these conditions is really hard.’’
Another family making their way to Turkey with their son also spoke of the high cost of finding safety.
“I borrowed 5,000 euros (5,770 dollars) from a friend so that we can travel to Istanbul to see our daughter in the hope that the situation will calm down a bit,’’ said the father.
“At the moment, we’re waiting until the streets are a little emptier and are thinking about the best border crossing to get to Turkey.’’
Not everyone can leave the country.
One official from Tehran wanted to drive towards Azerbaijan on the advice of his brother from the U.S., setting off with his 82-year-old mother on Sunday.
“But because of the heavy traffic, the petrol shortage, and my mother’s poor health, we had to turn back.
“Now we are waiting for better conditions to try again,’’ he said.
About the Author
What warning did Israel’s Defence Minister issue to Iran and its Supreme Leader?
In July 2025, then-Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant issued a direct written warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the letter, Gallant warned that Israel had penetrated Iran’s internal systems, intelligence, and decision-making processes and had the capability to inflict more damage.
Details of Gallant’s message
Failed nuclear ambitions: Gallant wrote that Khamenei’s “nuclear dream has failed” and that any attempt to rebuild the nuclear program would lead to future strikes. He claimed that Israel’s intelligence reach and military actions during the June 2025 conflict proved that Iran could not conceal its nuclear development.
Collapse of proxies: He asserted that the “Ring of Fire,” Iran’s network of regional proxy forces, had collapsed following Israeli military operations that had significantly weakened groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
Call for a change in priorities: Gallant offered Khamenei an ultimatum, urging him to “abandon your war against a small, determined country” and focus on the future of the Iranian people instead.
Claim of superior intelligence: Gallant declared that Israel saw, heard, and was “everywhere” within Iran’s internal systems, including military planning and high-level communications. He boasted that Israel “knew more about you than you knew about yourselves”.
The context of the warning
The unprecedented letter came in the wake of the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June 2025, during which the two nations engaged in direct military confrontation involving airstrikes and missile attacks. The war, which also involved U.S. forces, was a significant escalation of a decades-long proxy conflict.
In August 2025, shortly after being replaced as Defense Minister, Gallant went further, stating that Israel had attempted to assassinate Khamenei during the June conflict but failed. He suggested that such an operation should remain part of future plans.
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