On June 16, 2025, Iranian opposition Telegram channels circulated videos showing dozens of people running along a highway outside Tehran. Initial reports suggested a mass escape of prisoners from a detention center or drug trafficking camp in the Iranian capital. However, opposition sources later clarified that the escapees were likely patients at the city’s drug rehabilitation centers taking advantage of the chaos caused by Israeli airstrikes. Official Iranian media and authorities have not confirmed the reports, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the incident.

Videos posted on social media, including by the X platform, showed groups of people moving along the Chamran highway in northern Tehran. Some users claimed that the escape was made possible by explosions caused by Israeli strikes on military targets near the city, which damaged the infrastructure of the institutions. According to Reuters, Israel has been carrying out Operation Rising Lion since June 13, striking Iranian nuclear and military sites, including the Natanz complex and Shahed drone depots. The attacks have caused power outages and caused panic in Tehran, likely setting the stage for unrest. However, none of the reports of explosions near prisons or rehabilitation centers have been independently confirmed.

Iranian opposition channels such as Iran International initially reported a possible riot in one of the capital’s prisons, citing unofficial sources. The Evin prison, known for holding political prisoners, was mentioned, where a fire broke out in October 2022 during protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, the BBC reports. However, the information later shifted to rehabilitation centers where people undergoing treatment for drug addiction are held. According to The Guardian, there are about 3 million drug addicts in Iran, and such centers often operate under strict control, making them vulnerable to unrest in times of crisis.