Sobering footage has captured a massive traffic jam as thousands frantically tried to flee Tehran — with President Trump ominously warning that Israel wouldn’t be slowing its attacks on Iran anytime soon.
The president urged “everyone to evacuate” the Iranian capital late Monday as Israel appeared to be expanding its air assault five days after launching its surprise attack on Iran’s military and nuclear program.
He predicted, too, that Israel was showing no signs of relenting.
Heavy traffic on the Karaj-Chalus road as vehicles move westward in a direction leading out of Tehran, Iran, as Israel and Iran continue to attack each other. via REUTERS“You’re going to find out over the next two days,” Trump said when asked if Israel would slow its onslaught.
“You’re going to find out. Nobody’s slowed up so far.”
The grim warning came as aerial footage emerged of the scores of vehicles lining up bumper to bumper on the highway in Tehran as citizens headed north in search of safety.
The lines of headlights could be seen snaking throughout the city at some point after Israel started pummeling Iran with the airstrikes on Friday.
Meanwhile, Trump doubled down and said he wanted a “real end” to the nuclear problem with Iran, declaring: “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, it’s very simple.”
President Trump speaks to reporters about the G7 summit aboard Air Force One while traveling back to Washington from Canada on June 16, 2025. AFP via Getty Images“Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” he added in a Truth Social post. When asked by reporters why he had urged the evacuation, Trump said: “I just want people to be safe.”
Separately, Trump has said Washington was working on helping Americans who were trying to flee the region, adding: “We’re working on that, we’re doing the best we can.”
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While Washington has said Trump was still aiming for a nuclear deal with Iran, the commander-in-chief insisted he wasn’t looking for a cease-fire.
This handout picture released by the Iranian Red Crescent on June 17, 2025, shows members of rescue teams searching debris inside a building in Tehran targeted by Israeli strikes. Iranian Red Crescent/AFP via Getty ImagesTrump said he wanted a “real end” to the nuclear problem, adding that it meant Iran “giving up entirely.”
“If they want to talk, they know how to reach me. They should have taken the deal that was on the table – Would have saved a lot of lives,” Trump said in a Truth Social post about Iran.
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Israel has said its sweeping assault on Iran’s top military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment sites and ballistic missile program is necessary to prevent its longtime adversary from getting any closer to building an atomic weapon.
Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons and has said it has the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
With Post wires
