Hours before Israel began bombing Iran’s capital Tehran, Mohammad Reza Azimi left.
The escape was not planned; it was luck
“I left Tehran just a day before the attacks began, unaware that any such escalation was imminent,” he told the ABC.
The migration agent from Sydney was in the capital, visiting his parents and siblings before the conflict between Israel and Iran unfolded.
His wife and daughter back home in Australia are anxiously waiting to hear from him, hoping he will be safe.
He is booked on a flight to leave the country on July 4, but he feels conflicted about escaping early while Iran is in turmoil.
“I’m torn between two worlds … emotionally. I’m in a very difficult place,”
he said.
“On one hand, I’m here with my elderly parents and siblings, and it doesn’t feel morally right to walk away from them … On the other hand, I have my wife and children back in Australia who need me.”
Mohammad Reza Azimi is visiting the Tomb of Pire Shaliar in the ancient village of Uraman Takht, in Iran. (Supplied)
The latest Iran-Israel conflict began after Israel launched dozens of air strikes against Iranian targets last Friday.
It coincided with a report from the United Nations watchdog that found Iran had failed to comply with its nuclear obligations — the first time in almost 20 years.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Iran and Israel have traded fire, with explosions in Tel Aviv and Tehran.
Israel’s air campaign has struck several nuclear and military sites, killing top generals and nuclear scientists.
A Washington-based Iranian human rights group said at least 639 people, including 263 civilians, had been killed in Iran and more than 1,300 wounded but Tehran was not providing regular updates on the death toll.
In retaliation, Iran has fired some 400 missiles and hundreds of drones, killing at least 24 civilians in Israel and wounding hundreds. Some have hit apartment buildings in central Israel, causing heavy damage.
Mr Azimi said planning to leave Iran had been difficult, and he felt “stranded” and “unsupported by the Australian government”.
Despite registering for consular assistance with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), he said he not heard back from it.
A DFAT spokesperson said the government understood this was a distressing time for Australians in the region and for their loved ones back home.
“The safety of Australians is our priority. DFAT’s consular team is working to assist Australians to safety, via land and air when it is safe to do so,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
More than 2,000 Australians in Iran and Israel
Mr Azimi said he was now staying in the Kurdistan province of Marivan, a town 20 kilometres from the Iraq-Iran border, where he had very limited access to the internet and the outside world.
“It’s incredibly difficult and heartbreaking to watch all of this unfold in Iran — a country where my family lives and where my roots are,”
he said.
“Our politicians in Australia haven’t condemned Israel’s attack. It was unprovoked. And by staying silent, I believe Australia is standing on the wrong side of history.”
The Australian government has called on Iran to discontinue any nuclear program and return to diplomacy and dialogue.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has described the situation in the Middle East as “increasingly dangerous”.
About 1,500 Australians in Iran and 1,200 in Israel have registered for assistance to date but she anticipates that number will increase.
Senator Wong confirmed Australia was able to get a “small group” of people out of the region “by land crossing” yesterday.
Rabbi Moshe Kahn was able to escape Israel by cruise ship with his group of volunteers. (Supplied: Facebook)
Among them was Rabbi Moshe Kahn, who was visiting Israel when the bombing started, and described his experience.
“You go for a walk and then you get notification that within a few minutes you have to find a bomb shelter,” he told the ABC.
“So that’s clearly not something any Australian could ever dream of.“
Mr Kahn felt an added sense of responsibility while evacuating — for the group of 50 volunteers he brought with him.
“We were just on a bus ride and we had to stop and everybody had to get off and lie on the ground against the wall because there was no bomb shelter,” he said.
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The group ultimately escaped Israel by cruise ship, arriving in Cyprus before boarding a flight to Dubai to return to Australia.
“Rather than wait all day at the airport, we took a soulful detour to the breathtaking coast of Ayia Napa,” Mr Kahn posted on Facebook.
“From exploring majestic grottoes to dipping our feet in crystal-clear waters, we found a moment of calm in the storm.”
But he was concerned about the plight of his elderly mother and brother, whose son has a disability, who remain in Israel.
“My brother can’t take him to the shelter every time. He lives on the fourth-floor apartment and the shelter’s all the way down],” he said.
“And just hearing what he’s going through and the fear of that [is difficult.
“It’s the real impact of your day-to-day life. The city’s really shut down.”
Senator Wong said the situation on the ground was very difficult.
“We took the opportunity to get a small group out by land crossing yesterday and we’ll seek to continue that,” she told ABC News Breakfast.
“Obviously, the situation on the ground is fluid. Iran is a very complicated situation, a very risky situation. I think we all know that.
“Our travel advice remains the same and it is that if you are able to leave safely, you should do so. If not, shelter in place.“
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Thousands of stranded Australians try to leave as Iran-Israel conflict escalates
