Trump claims success on U.S. strikes on Iran; Iranian retaliatory strikes hit Tel Aviv

Over Friday and Saturday, the traffic back into Tehran was heavy. People who had evacuated were returning to the city after what had felt like two days of relative calm that they hoped would stretch into more. Some government offices were meant to open today.

Instead, that sense of calm was proven false by the U.S. strikes last night.

Now there’s heightened security entering Tehran: multiple checkpoints along the roads, and cars are being thoroughly searched to identify any potential internal threats. The people who are returning are not doing it because it feels safe, but because they have to.

Inside Tehran, most places are still closed. Only essential medical services are running maybe a few drugstores for urgent needs. Government jobs are on hold, some private companies are working remotely, and factories are opening if their workers are willing to return. Many are scared for their lives, and the city remains mostly empty and eerie, more empty even than during the pandemic.