My sister’s voice, strained with fear and anxiety, crackles through our intermittent WhatsApp connection from Tehran. The precarious nature of our communication underscores the gravity of the situation.
She seeks clarity, turning to me, a BBC journalist in London, with desperate questions: “What’s going to happen? What should we do?” President Trump’s call for Tehran residents to evacuate hangs heavy in the air. “Is he serious?” she asks.
Since Thursday, Israeli aircraft have repeatedly targeted Tehran, seemingly operating with impunity. Anti-aircraft fire proves largely ineffective.
From her high-rise apartment, my sister witnesses the attacks firsthand, a terrifying spectacle that exacerbates her fear.
The Israeli military has issued evacuation orders for her district, encompassing a wide area, yet she remains. She reports no apparent military targets near her building.
However, she is concerned about a nearby commercial facility, believed to be linked to the Revolutionary Guards, whose activities remain largely clandestine.
Uncertainty prevails; many residents lack awareness of their neighbors’ affiliations or the proximity of potential military targets due to the secretive nature of the Revolutionary Guards’ operations.
While electricity and water supplies largely persist, food shortages are emerging. Many shops have closed, including bakeries, some due to flour scarcity, others likely due to owners fleeing the city.
Despite the exodus of hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, my sister refuses to leave, lacking alternative shelter.
Despite congested roads and fuel shortages, the mass evacuation continues. Tehran’s usually bustling streets now bear an unsettling quiet.
Remaining residents largely remain indoors, fearing further attacks. Recent reports indicate easing of fuel lines and reduced traffic congestion on roads leading out of the capital.
Residents near nuclear facilities face additional anxieties over potential radioactive contamination following repeated Israeli strikes. The IAEA reports unchanged radioactivity levels outside two damaged sites.
Uncertainty hangs heavy; people question the conflict’s trajectory and duration. Many now rely on foreign Persian-language news channels.
BBC Persian’s television and online services have become crucial information sources, experiencing a dramatic surge in web traffic from within Iran, despite persistent internet slowdowns.
Trump’s call for Iran’s surrender is countered by Ayatollah Khamenei’s defiant rejection. While few Iranians support the regime, many fear the potential for widespread chaos and lawlessness should it significantly weaken.
Sources suggest potential US strikes could utilize advanced weaponry to target underground nuclear sites.
Flight tracking data indicates the deployment of at least 30 US military aircraft from American bases to Europe.
Iran’s Fordo nuclear facility, heavily fortified, is potentially vulnerable only to a specific conventional weapon, one known to be possessed solely by the US.
Recent shootings near aid distribution sites represent a significant threat.
Tehran’s nearly 10 million residents face the critical decision of sheltering in place or attempting to evacuate.