Israel-Iran war: 330,000 flee Tehran, oil price drops 4%

Iran and Israel flags together. Iran and Israel conflict.

In a dramatic turn of events yesterday, the Islamic Republic of Iran signalled its willingness to pursue a ceasefire in its ongoing war with Israel, even as heavy Israeli air raids continued to pound critical targets in and around Tehran, including the headquarters of Iran’s state television.

Witnesses described a deafening explosion followed by chaos in surrounding neighborhoods. “All we could see was smoke and broken glass,” said a Tehran resident. “People were running, children were screaming. We thought it was the end.”

The ongoing bombardment has triggered a mass evacuation of over 330,000 residents from the capital, with local authorities designating “red zones” around critical military and nuclear installations.

Meanwhile, the international markets reacted swiftly to signs of possible de-escalation, with global oil prices falling by nearly 4% yesterday afternoon, after trending upward earlier in the day.

Traders appear encouraged by reports of Iran’s diplomatic outreach and a potential pause in hostilities.
Financial analysts noted that while the risk of full-scale regional war has not been eliminated, “the prospect of a ceasefire—however tentative—has calmed fears of prolonged disruption to oil supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Iran’s diplomatic overtures, according to credible media reports, are being channeled through Gulf Arab states—namely Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman—which have been quietly engaging both Tehran and Tel Aviv in a bid to de-escalate a rapidly expanding conflict.

However, Tehran has made it clear that any potential truce is contingent on the United States staying out of the battlefield.

Despite its appeal for dialogue, Iran is still absorbing heavy losses. Israeli warplanes, under the banner of “Operation Rising Lion,” launched a fresh wave of attacks Monday morning, targeting missile stockpiles, suspected nuclear infrastructure, and notably, the national broadcasting complex of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) in central Tehran. Vanguard