WANA (Mar 02) – On the third day of the war, the sound of explosions can still be heard in parts of Tehran. Fighter jets patrol the skies above the capital. Citizens have gathered in major squares and religious sites to mourn and express their anger.

 

Yet for many foreign observers, the central question remains: Has Tehran ground to a halt amid the conflict?

 

Field reports from the night of March 1 indicate that despite sporadic airstrikes in the late afternoon and evening, Iran’s capital has not descended into chaos or witnessed mass evacuation.

 

A local journalist who moved across different districts of the city between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. said that despite calls by some opposition groups for protest gatherings, there were no signs of organised unrest on the streets.

 

According to him, Tehran did not appear “war-ravaged,” but rather a city in mourning. Streets were quieter than usual, but not deserted. Essential shops remained open, cars were moving, and life—though slower—continued.

People gather to mourn after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in Israeli and U.S. strikes on Saturday, in Tehran, Iran, March 1, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Mourning Under a Tense Sky

Last night, thousands gathered in major squares of the capital, including Enghelab Square, following a call by the Islamic Propagation Coordination Council to respond to the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader.

 

As ceremonies were underway, several explosions were heard in parts of the city. The crowd responded by chanting “Allahu Akbar”—a scene that for some evoked memories of the Iran-Iraq war years.

 

Bread, Fuel, and Essential Goods: Services in Three Shifts

In wartime, supply chains are often among the first casualties. However, Tehran authorities insist that public services remain uninterrupted. According to the head of Tehran Province’s Agricultural Jihad Organisation, 2,500 tons of flour are distributed daily to bakeries, many of which are operating in three shifts.

 

Thousands of tons of rice, sugar, cooking oil, and dates have also been stored and distributed. The poultry market, with more than 3,000 tons of fresh and frozen chicken supplied daily, is described as being in “stable” condition.

 

Tehran Municipality’s spokesperson has announced that all municipal fruit and vegetable markets and the Shahrvand chain stores remain operational, with midday closures suspended.

People wait for their turn outside a fuel station, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Fuel and Banks: Shorter Queues

The spokesperson for the Fuel Station Owners’ Association said distribution continues under normal procedures, adding that queues have shortened compared to the first days of the crisis.

 

Banks are operating with designated standby branches, while government offices are functioning at roughly 50 percent capacity. Schools will continue remotely through the end of the academic year.

 

Air Patrols Over the Capital

Following the declaration of heightened readiness, Air Force fighter jets began flying over Tehran. According to reports, MiG-29 and Yak-130 aircraft are tasked with support missions and securing the capital’s airspace.

Who Stayed, Who Left?

Some families have left Tehran as a precaution. However, according to municipal sources, a significant portion of the population remains. Public transportation is operational and free of charge.

 

Basij patrols and volunteer forces have also been deployed across various districts to maintain security.

 

A City in Suspension

Tehran today bears neither the face of a fully normal city nor that of a collapsed metropolis. The sound of explosions, lines at bakeries, people moving through the streets, mourning chants, daily shopping, fighter jets overhead, and motorcycles riding through the night—all coexist within a single frame.

 

For outside observers who hear the phrase “bombing of Tehran,” the image may be of a city on the brink of collapse. But what unfolds on the streets suggests something different: a city navigating crisis with caution—yet still standing.