Iran, US, Israel officials give civilians clashing directives as bombs drop

Iranians receive mixed messages amid ongoing attacks, internet shutdown and limited mobile connectivity.Published On 28 Feb 2026Tehran, Iran – Iranians are being directly addressed by leaders inside and outside the country after the United States and Israel launched attacks across Iran, prompting Tehran to respond with a wave of ongoing missile and drone attacks across the region.“In light of the continued joint operations by the US and the Zionist regime against Tehran and several other major cities, if possible while remaining calm, please travel to other centres and cities where it is feasible for you to do so,” read a text message sent to the 10 million residents of Tehran by the government on Saturday afternoon.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Backpacks, schoolbooks seen amid rubble of Iranian girls’ schoollist 2 of 3Mapping US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikeslist 3 of 3Nine months after 12-day war, US, Israel seek to topple Iran’s leadersend of listAll outbound roads from the capital were heavily congested with traffic from the morning, shortly after the US and Israel began joint strikes that targeting more than 20 of Iran’s 32 provinces.Inside Tehran, people also formed long queues in front of petrol stations, even as government authorities emphasised that they remain in control, saying that food and fuel supplies would not be a problem and that contingency plans were in motion.Authorities also accommodated civilians trying to exit the city, including by setting up roadside refuelling stations. Many families were headed to three provinces to the north near the Caspian Sea, as they did during the 12-day war with Israel.Last June, during the war, US President Donald Trump issued a direct warning telling all Tehran citizens to immediately evacuate.But in a video message released shortly after the strikes began on Saturday, he urged the Iranian people to stay in their homes and wait for a suitable time to rise up and overthrow the theocratic establishment governing Iran since a 1979 Islamic Revolution. He framed it as “probably your only chance for generations”.