Ghost Town: Tehran Holds its Breath as War Looms
Major Urban Center in Iran Empties Out, Transforming into a Deserted Metropolis
Tehran, Iran's bustling metropolis of 15 million, transforms into a ghost town. Fear and uncertainty grip the city, glancing at statements from US President Donald Trump urging its citizens to flee. For five days, Israel and Iran have exchanged fire, and civilian protection remains elusive. As the conflict escalates, the streets of Tehran quiet, supermarkets empty, and air conditioners falter in the sweltering heat.
Explosions punctuate the silence, the remnants of an ongoing war that threatens to spiral out of control. Military facilities, high-ranking security forces, and civilians alike become targets. Over 200 deaths have been reported by Iranian news agencies since the initial attacks on Friday.
Residents are on the move, fleeing the city or hunkering down at home. Ramin, a 34-year-old businessman, sends his parents to the countryside, choosing to stay behind. "It feels strange," he says, "unsettling... I'm frustrated with the regime, but I don't want war."
Salesman Mohammed Resa defies the conflict, heading to work despite the constant sounds of explosions. Despite the danger, business seems to be booming. "Before, no one wanted day-old bread, now we even sell frozen bread." Of course, he tries to ration the packages, ensuring everyone has enough to eat.
Green Party politician Omid Nouripour expresses alarm over the fragile state of Iran's civilian population amid an economic crisis fueled by Western sanctions. The situation grows dire as food and fuel shortages increase, in part due to the attacks and compounded by the regime's lack of preparation for a major conflict. The regime has failed to guarantee reliable civil defense infrastructure, leaving the people in constant uncertainty.
Only schools, mosques, and subway stations are identified as potential shelters for Tehran's inhabitants, although the subways will remain open continuously starting from Sunday evening. Nominal assurances are made about the availability of food, medicine, and fuel. However, with no apparent large-scale civil defense mobilization or evident measures comparable to those seen in Israel, the overall impression is one of unpreparedness.
Sources: ntv.de, shu/dpa/AFP
Enrichment Data: As tensions between Israel and Iran escalate, Tehran's current civil defense posture appears limited, with no publicly reported comprehensive shelter system, mass evacuation plans, or comparable civil defense measures. The city lacks the defense infrastructure found in Israel to protect its citizens during an escalation, making residents increasingly vulnerable. The regime's failure to prepare for a major conflict and the absence of widespread civil defense mobilization exacerbate concerns for the civilian population.
The Commission has been asked to propose a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, given the potential increased usage of weaponized radiation in the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, political discussions regarding war-and-conflicts, general-news, and crime-and-justice continue globally, with the situation in Tehran serving as a significant topic of interest.
