Hundreds of Iranians crossed into Turkey at the Kapikoy gate on March 2 as hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States expanded. Turkey had earlier suspended day‑trip crossings at three Turkish‑Iranian gates, allowing only Turkish citizens and third‑country nationals. Arrivals reported fear in Tehran, crowded shops and long queues at petrol stations, while Turkish officials said commercial cargo transits continued under controlled conditions. Locals near the border noted bombardment of military areas but no immediate food shortages.
Hundreds Cross Into Turkey Through Kapikoy as Regional Hostilities Expand
People wait for transportation to the city center after crossing from Iran into Turkey at the Kapikoy Border Gate in eastern Van province, Turkey, March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya
KAPIKOY, Turkey, March 2 — Hundreds of Iranians crossed into Turkey at the Kapikoy border gate on Monday afternoon as hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States widened, a Reuters witness said. Arrivals described fear in Tehran, crowded shops and long queues at petrol stations, while travelers moved across under light snow toward waiting minibuses.
Earlier on Monday, Turkish authorities announced that day‑trip passenger crossings at the three Turkish‑Iranian border gates had been mutually suspended, allowing entry only for Turkish citizens and third‑country nationals. On Sunday, some travelers had reported being stopped from crossing into Turkey.
Witness Accounts
A man from Tehran, who declined to give his name but said his wife and children were in Istanbul, described a tense atmosphere in the Iranian capital. He said he had bought household goods on the first day of the conflict and that shops were "very crowded," adding:
'The situation in Tehran is already difficult. There are difficult things in Tehran, bombings. Everyone is scared. But for example, normal people, nothing happened to them.'
Binali Kilic, an Iranian Azeri from the Qazvin area near the border, said daily life there continued largely as normal though bombardment of military sites was affecting residents. "They've withdrawn into themselves. Everyone is in their homes," he said, describing the sounds of nearby strikes as travelers wheeled suitcases under light snow.
Kilic and other arrivals said there were no immediate food shortages but that fuel was a growing concern, with "queues at petrol stations."
Official Response
Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat said Iran was permitting its own citizens to return via Turkey and that commercial cargo transits at all three gates were continuing under controlled conditions. Bolat added that Turkish border units remained on high alert to ensure the uninterrupted flow of border services and trade.
'All our units continue to perform their duties on high alert to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of Turkey's border crossing services and trade flows,' Bolat said.
The situation remained fluid at the time of reporting, with cross‑border movements, transport controls and civilian concerns evolving alongside the broader regional hostilities.
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