Artist: Behnam Mohammadi
By Kayhan Life Staff
“Evacuate Tehran, we are taking action.” The order was solemnly issued by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on June 16, coinciding with Israel’s targeted attacks on the IRGC’s command centers, the state broadcaster, and critical infrastructure in Tehran. U.S. President Donald Trump also echoed this demand on his Truth Social network: “Everyone must evacuate Tehran immediately!”
Tehran, a sprawling metropolis with a population exceeding 10 million in its urban core and around 15 million in the broader metropolitan area, faces a daunting challenge. The city grapples with a lack of resources for a mass evacuation, compounded by severely limited exit routes, relentless traffic congestion, and a glaring absence of official bomb shelters to protect its citizens. Typical journeys that normally take 7 to 8 hours have stretched into grueling odysseys of up to 24 hours.
A week into the war between Israel and the Islamic Republic, the impact on Tehran’s food supply chain is stark. Disruptions have led to a flour shortage, forcing some bakeries to ration bread. Despite officials’ assurances of sufficient food reserves for up to a year, the reality is altogether different.
Meanwhile, disruptions in the banking system due to internet outages and cyberattacks have caused the card readers of many bakeries to malfunction. As a result, customers can only buy bread if they have cash; bank ATMs have been either out of order or out of cash. This has left residents struggling to buy basic necessities, including the most fundamental staple—bread.
While Tehran’s towers may still stand, the city is reeling from a profound loss: the erosion of its people’s trust in the regime, its authority, and the psychological security of its residents.
