The highways into Tehran are busy once more. Cars packed with families, suitcases, and tentative hope crawl back toward a capital still bearing the wounds of war. Following a fragile ceasefire announced Monday, thousands of displaced residents are returning after a devastating 12-day Israeli bombing campaign that killed over 600 Iranians and forced hundreds of thousands to flee, reads an Al Jazeera post.
For many, the simple act of being home again is overwhelming. “Coming back after all these days, even from a place where you were physically safe, feels like heaven,” said Nika, a 33-year-old graphic designer. She and her husband had taken refuge at a relative’s home in Zanjan, nearly 300 kilometers from Tehran. “But I don’t know if the ceasefire will last.”
The war erupted early on June 13 when Israeli forces launched what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear sites. What followed was an unprecedented exchange between the two regional powers, bringing missiles and airstrikes into the heart of Tehran for the first time in decades.
As air raid sirens wailed and foreign embassies advised evacuation, the exodus from Tehran began. Long queues at petrol stations and gridlocked highways slowed the escape, but by the fifth day, much of the capital was emptied of its residents.
Among them was Saba, a 26-year-old university student. “I had a full-time job, I was studying, I lived alone—my life was full,” she recalled. “At first, I refused to believe it would all stop. I still went to work and to cafes. But eventually, you couldn’t ignore the bombs. Life was stopping.” Unable to secure a ride, her father drove from their hometown of Quchan to retrieve her. She stayed there until the ceasefire.
According to the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, at least 610 people were killed and nearly 1,500 wounded, with civilians making up more than 90 percent of the casualties.
Kamran, a businessman and father of two, initially stayed in the city to keep his company operational. “During the day, it was bearable. But the nights—the nights were unbearable,” he said. Eventually, he too fled the capital.
The ceasefire has allowed many to return, though the sense of security is thin. “After days of living with 11 other people and no privacy, coming back to my quiet apartment felt like heaven,” said Nika. Still, the relief is uneasy. “Even if war breaks out again, I’m not sure I’ll leave. This is my home.”
For some, there is no home to return to. Famed Iranian musician Keyvan Saket received a call while sheltering in a nearby town: his home had been hit. Though one missile failed to detonate—sparing further destruction—the damage was staggering. “The windows were gone, doors twisted, appliances ruined. Even the iron doors were mangled,” he said. “With every fibre of my being, I despise war. It is the ugliest thing humanity has ever created.”
Despite the ceasefire, reports of violations from both sides have continued. Iran accused Israel of continued strikes in the hours following the agreement, while Israel said it intercepted Iranian missiles afterward. Attacks reportedly resumed briefly, with Israeli forces targeting locations in Tehran, including Evin Prison, and Iran retaliating with strikes on Israeli territory.
Hamed, a political science student, had returned from Kerman just hours after the ceasefire was announced. “It feels like a recurring nightmare,” he said. “I really don’t want to pack up and leave again—not knowing when I can come back.”
Still, Tehran’s streets are slowly reviving. As companies end remote work and cafes reopen, the city feels momentarily alive again. Damage from the airstrikes remains visible across several provinces, including Alborz, Isfahan, East Azerbaijan, Fars, and Kermanshah. Israel has claimed to have hit more than 100 targets across Iran during the operation.
As the sun rises over Tehran’s boulevards and the sound of traffic hums once more, many like Saba are clinging to cautious optimism. “Seeing people return, watching life come back—it lifts my heart,” she said. But beneath the bustle lies a sobering truth: the peace is fragile, and its future uncertain.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
