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Desperate Iranians try to flee Israeli bombardments

At least 224 people, including many civilians, have been killed in Iran since Israel launched its attacks, according to state media. Retaliatory strikes have killed at least 24 people in Israel.
Powerful Iranian missile slips through Israeli air defenses
02:21
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By Amin Khodadadi and Chantal Da Silva

TEHRAN, Iran — Mehrdad Imani and his wife, Sogol Imani, left Iran two years ago to start a family in "peace" in Canada. Now, back in Iran's capital, Tehran, introducing their 6-month-old daughter, Rosa, to loved ones, they are terrified that they've been trapped by Israel's bombing campaign.

"No one knows until when this will go on and if there will be a family after all this," the 42-year-old who works in construction told NBC News on Tuesday. “I might get stuck here forever."

Imani and his family, who are staying in northern Tehran, are among people throughout the country caught by fighting that broke out Friday with Israeli strikes, bringing long-simmering tensions with Iran to a boil.

They also faced evacuation orders from Israel yesterday, and last night President Donald Trump warned all residents of Tehran to leave the city, which with a population of around 10 million is larger than New York City.

Iranian-Injured-after-Israeli-Attack
Iranians take care of people injured in a reported strike on Keshavarz Boulevard in downtown Tehran on Sunday.Asad / Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Roads and highways out of Tehran were jammed over the weekend and Monday as frantic people sought to escape the capital. Many have headed north, where they have homes or places to go to along the Caspian Sea.

On Tuesday, an eerie calm had descended on the capital, although there was a rush of customers at some supermarkets and bakeries.

At least 224 people, including many civilians, have been killed in Iran since Israel launched its attack, according to Iranian state media. Iranian retaliatory strikes have killed at least 24 people in Israel, Israeli officials said.

Vahid Sadeghi, a 45-year-old marketing expert, said he and his wife, Sima, a homemaker, tried to leave Tehran after the bombing began but got stuck at a checkpoint, where a blast injured his wife and forced them to turn back.

Iranian media said an Israeli strike hit the Tehran police headquarters in the city centre on June 15, as the two foes exchanged fire for a third day.
Traffic builds on the streets of Tehran as people try to flee the capital Sunday.Atta Kenare / AFP - Getty Images

State media had announced that the checkpoint was closed while local media reported an attack, but it was not immediately clear what exactly had occurred happened.

“We were fleeing for safety but almost got killed,” he said.

The couple plans to try to leave again but fear for their safety, regardless of whether they stay or go, he said.

Hopes of truce dimming

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was compelled to attack Iran on Friday to try and dismantle Iran’s nuclear program. Iran has long said it doesn't seek nuclear weapons.

Vowing a "powerful" response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes soon after, with the two sides continuing to trade fire in the following days. Israeli strikes have decimated the ranks of senior Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists.

A crying woman carries an injured baby
Iranians injured by an Israeli strike on Keshavarz Boulevard in downtown Tehran on Sunday.Amir Kholousi / AFP via Getty Images

On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a post on X that residents of Tehran would “pay the price” for Iran’s retaliatory attacks, sparking alarm.

Katz later said there was “no intention to physically harm the residents of Tehran,” but they that they would be forced to “pay the price of the dictatorship and evacuate their homes” from areas targeted by the Israeli military.

Striking out at Iran’s leadership for failing to quickly agree to limitations curbing its nuclear ambitions, Trump on Monday urged Tehran’s residents to “immediately evacuate.”

But hopes of an imminent truce between the two nations dimmed as Trump said an early departure from the Group of Seven summit in Canada had "nothing to do" with trying to secure a ceasefire.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did say earlier in a post on X that Trump was leaving the summit “because of what’s going on in the Middle East."

Trump and other leaders of the G7 nations, including Canada, said in a statement that Israel has the right to defend itself, adding that Iran was the "principal source of regional instability."

“We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon," they said.