A tense atmosphere has gripped Tehran as citizens brace for a potential large-scale retaliatory strike following Iran’s launch of a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday night.
Tehran residents told CNN that many public spaces, including movie theaters, were already closed in mourning for Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, who was killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut last week.
In retaliation, Iran fired approximately 200 ballistic missiles at Israeli targets on Tuesday, marking its largest attack to date and triggering sirens across Israel while activating the country’s advanced defense systems.
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When asked how they plan to prepare for a possible retaliation, one Iranian, who did not wish to give their name for fear of retribution, said: “I’ve told my family to leave Tehran if they can,” adding that while Israel could target Iran’s nuclear facilities, it may also “hit the city.”
Not everyone is prepared to leave, however. “We didn’t leave during Iran-Iraq war,” said another resident of Tehran, referring to the eight-year conflict between the two states in the 1980s.
A female resident said Israel is likely to hit nuclear sites first, then “we will see what happens after,” before adding, “Where would we go anyway?”
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