Explosions rock Tehran, residents grapple with whether to flee or stay

Tehran was rocked by a series of explosions on March 4 morning, leaving many residents uncertain about whether to stay in the Iranian capital or seek safety elsewhere, a man who recently fled the city told CNN.

Loud blasts were reported across the city, with the semi-official state news agency Tasnim News Agency noting that the explosions occurred in multiple districts.

“The bombing is everywhere – north, south, east, west. They seem to be going for anything and everything,” the resident said, speaking anonymously for fear of reprisals.

The man, who fled Tehran a few nights ago with his wife, a doctor, described the anxiety of living under continuous attacks. “You never know what or who is a target,” he said.

Earlier this week, a TV and radio antenna near their home was hit, shaking the entire neighborhood.

Now settled in a small town near Damavand, Iran’s tallest peak, he said the nights are filled with the sound of fighter jets, though no strikes have reached their area.

“A lot of friends and family are staying put in Tehran for now, because the thinking is no matter where you go, something there will be targeted,” he added.

Heading south raises fears of encountering foreign forces at the borders, while traveling north risks getting trapped on the congested Chalus Highway, he said. “Many people are thinking it’s better to just stay where you are.”

By Vafa Guliyeva