Tehran ordered to evacuate as residents flee Israeli strikes, causing more oil concerns

Israel has told people in Tehran to leave their homes as the country continues bombing Iran's capital city, according to reporting by the Wall Street Journal. Roads leading away from Tehran are packed with cars as thousands of Iranians try to escape the violence. The Israeli military specifically warned residents of District 3, a large neighborhood in northern Tehran, to evacuate immediately. This area is about twice the size of Manhattan's midtown and contains hospitals, schools, and hotels. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his forces are targeting Iran's military leaders and nuclear program. According to the report, people are even sharing car rides with strangers they meet online and staying in guest houses far from the city.

The Wall Street Journal further reported that some hotels and wedding venues are offering free rooms to people fleeing Tehran. After driving for seven hours, one mother with two children had only traveled 100 miles due to heavy traffic. Many cars have run out of gas, making traffic worse, and gas stations are not working properly, the article states. Additionally, the internet is reportedly running slowly in Iran, making it hard for people to get information about where attacks might happen next.

Videos verified by news organizations show long lines of cars on major highways leading north from Tehran, as documented by AlJazeera's coverage of the evacuation. People are heading to Iran's mountain regions and coastal areas where they believe they will be safer from Israeli attacks. Some families remember hiding in similar places during Iran's war with Iraq in the 1980s when cities were bombed regularly. Iranian officials are trying to calm people by saying there will be enough fuel for everyone, but long lines at gas stations show many people are worried.

The same report states that Israel says it has attacked command centers belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guard in Tehran over the past few days. The strikes have focused on Iran's nuclear facilities, military leaders, and important infrastructure across the country. According to AlJazeera, at least 224 civilians have died in the Israeli attacks, though other groups say the number is over 400. Israel has also bombed other Iranian cities, including Tabriz, Mahabad, and Isfahan. Despite the danger, many Tehran residents are choosing to stay in their homes because they cannot find transportation for their pets or simply refuse to leave their city.

Oil prices jumped more than 4 percent on Tuesday after President Donald Trump made strong threats against Iran's supreme leader, as reported by CNBC's market coverage. Trump called Iran's leader an easy target and demanded Iran's complete surrender on his social media platform. The price of crude oil rose to $74.84 per barrel for American oil and $76.45 for international oil. Trump said the United States knows exactly where Iran's supreme leader is hiding but will not kill him for now. He warned that American patience is running out and that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. 

According to CNBC, Trump met with his security team at the White House and ordered more American military equipment to be sent to the Middle East. The conflict has been going on for five days, and Trump left an international meeting early to deal with the Iran situation. Oil market experts say prices have only gone up about 10 percent since the fighting started because the world has plenty of oil right now.

Iran sells about 1.6 million barrels of oil per day, mostly to China, but experts believe the global market can handle losing that supply. The biggest worry is that Iran might try to block the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway where 20 percent of the world's oil passes through, which could push oil prices above $100 per barrel.