As many as 3.2 million people in Iran may have been driven from their homes by the conflict, according to the UN refugee agency, which says the number is expected to climb if the violence continues.

UNHCR said most of those uprooted appear to have left Tehran and other large urban areas, heading instead towards northern parts of the country and more rural districts in search of safety.

In a statement, UNHCR director Ayaki Ito said the scale of displacement was likely to grow further as hostilities persisted, deepening humanitarian pressures.

The agency also warned that refugees already living in Iran, the majority of them Afghan, were especially exposed because many lack strong support networks.

It added that protecting civilians remained an urgent priority and called for borders to stay open for people trying to escape the fighting.