Some residents prepare to leave Tehran as anxiety grows

Tehran is dotted with bombed-out buildings from US and Israeli strikes during the height of the war in March and April. Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed.

Hashem Vajdani, 45, a gym trainer, said he plans to leave the city as anxiety grows.

“I have already packed my belongings to go to a safer town in the north of the country,” he said. “Today I bought more canned food, crackers and extra blankets.”

There are concerns that new fighting could bring a higher toll for Iranian civilians. Thousands have been killed in the war. Trump has repeated threats to take out power plants and other infrastructure.

Anger at the U.S. president has found expression in a billboard set up days ago at a major Tehran square. Passersby have gawked at a Trump impersonator languishing behind bars as footage airing behind him shows a deadly strike on a wedding party in southern Iran that was blamed on the U.S.

Staring up at the cage, Farzaneh Arabzadeh, 30, said she hoped the scene would happen in reality. Trump said he launched the war to help Iranians, she said, but he “put our people in a worse situation.”

The elections in Israel and the U.S. are expected to reflect voters' anger over the war and other issues. Trump’s political support could be weakened, while Netanyahu is in a tight race at a time of anger over Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack, and a series of inconclusive wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.

Israel's elections are especially important, Tehran-based analyst Rahman Ghahremanpour said. If Netanyahu stays, there is a higher chance of all-out war resuming because of his willingness to take major risks, he added.

Tehran residents said neither election is likely to improve relations.

“It makes no difference. Their hostility toward us remains unchanged,” said Rasool Ghanbari, 50.