He was biking across Iran and documenting it on TikTok. Then war broke out.

From navigating pugnacious upwind successful Australia to being questioned by constabulary successful Egypt, Ian Andersen has faced galore challenges successful his journeys biking crossed continents and documenting them connected societal media.

But the American creator, known arsenic “ridewithian” to his 43,300 followers connected TikTok, ne'er had warfare connected his database of imaginable hurdles — until past week. Amid his 29-day trek crossed Iran, Andersen recovered himself stuck conscionable aft Israeli forces began a “pre-emptive” onslaught connected the country.

As Iran and Israel continue to commercialized attacks, visitors similar Andersen person scrambled to find ways to safely exit the Middle East. He was among respective radical to papers however helium was capable to depart the country, and helium shared his travel with followers.

Andersen said that astatine first, helium was determined to continue his Iran travel “as intended.” But past his guide, Reza, told him thing that made him alteration course. “I tin nary longer support you,” Reza said, according to Andersen. “If you’re stopped by police, I should conscionable question goodbye, due to the fact that there’s thing I tin do.”

As of Wednesday, the State Department had advised citizens to “leave Iran now” and to person plans that bash “not trust connected U.S. authorities help.” Other governments person besides warned their citizens to permission the portion arsenic the struggle unfolds and airspace closes. The United Kingdom has advised against "all question to Iran." Similarly, Australia has said its citizens should not question to Israel. Major U.S. carriers similar Delta and American person offered rebooking options.

Some Americans successful Israel person besides been capable to permission the portion after the authorities of Florida and a nonprofit enactment arranged a formation to bring evacuees home.

Andersen said his departure was imaginable lone due to the fact that of Reza, whose past sanction helium did not stock to support his safety, and assistance from the State Department.

“I had a mates weeks determination successful state of truly affirmative bully experiences," helium said successful a telephone interview. "Experiencing Iran arsenic it should beryllium experienced.”

His archetypal vlog from Iran, posted June 2, recorded him crossing into the state from Turkey. Not dissimilar different influencers whose contented focuses connected travel, Andersen besides posted himself trying antithetic section cuisines — including a fermented yogurt drink, a Persian omelet and kaleh pacheh, a stew made with goat caput — and showing the hospitality of the Iranian people.

"They tried to springiness america for escaped and said we are their guests, but we had to insist," Andersen says successful 1 video, which Reza explains is an illustration of the "ta’arof," a signifier of etiquette practiced by Iranians worldwide.

As helium biked astir the country, helium besides captured the scenery and talked to viewers astir the interaction of sanctions, asking successful 1 video, "What happens erstwhile a state is chopped disconnected from the planetary system for decades?"

The lighthearted, amusive code of his videos began to displacement 1 week agone while helium was successful Chalus. Many of his followers began commenting, sharing concerns astir his safety.

"Actually each of america are bittersweet due to the fact that this is happening," Reza says successful 1 video aft they heard quality of the attack. "But anticipation for satellite without war. ... Everybody needs a peaceful world."

The 2 were headed toward Tehran to effort to benignant retired a visa for Afghanistan, which was the adjacent state connected Andersen's itinerary.

"It's astonishing that adjacent aft specified an event, you know, an emergency, that radical are truthful friendly," Andersen says aft 2 radical eating adjacent them bring them a repast and importune they stock with them.

The accusation that was disposable successful Iran was initially unclear, and it near Andersen with questions. Iran plunged into a near-total net blackout this week, limiting Iranians’ quality to entree and stock accusation with the extracurricular world.

The concern soon became “too dangerous," Andersen says successful different video, and helium and Reza decided not to spell to Tehran.

“It ended up being a bully call, ’cause determination was conscionable much and much attacks arsenic the days went by,” Andersen told NBC News arsenic helium reflected connected his past week.

“There was tons of rumors flying astir astir what borders mightiness beryllium open," helium added. "Like, what, similar 1 of the requirements erstwhile you get to the border? Like if you’re capable to get a visa, if you tin conscionable spell through. A lifeline came done via an email from the State Department astir getting into Azerbaijan."

He yet was capable to exit done Azerbaijan with assistance from Reza, who drove them to the border. He said helium "probably wouldn’t beryllium present talking" if it weren't for Reza.

"I’m out, and genuinely grateful for each your prayers, messages, and support," Andersen wrote successful a caller video update. "It’s an grant to person you pursuing this travel and caring astir my wellbeing retired present successful the Middle East. ... And finally, to my Iranian usher Reza—there’s nary 1 I’d alternatively person had by my side."

Andersen said that since helium near the country, his thoughts proceed to beryllium with the radical of some Iran and Israel and that helium is besides “thinking astir each the radical who don’t person the enactment to leave, similar I did.”

U.K.-based influencers Nadia Akhtar and Irfan Aziz, who spell by the handle "fieldofvisions" connected TikTok, wherever they person 60,000 followers, were besides successful Iran erstwhile the strikes began.

The couple, who were unavailable for an interview, were traveling with their young son, Zakariya. They rapidly realized they were among the past to participate the state connected an incoming formation and soon had a front-row spot for the attacks from their balcony.

"Iranian forces were intercepting Israeli drones close supra us," Aziz says successful a video. "That night, we realized this wasn't mean and it's thing similar what has happened before. We needed to commencement reasoning astir an exit plan."

The proposal they got from officials was simple: “Get retired now." Like Andersen, they said they leaned connected help from their guide, Ali, to assistance them get out.

Aziz said that astatine 1:30 a.m. that night, they drove with Ali "through the nighttime contempt getting zero sleep" to get to the Turkish border.

"It was erstwhile we approached Tabriz, 7 hours from Tehran, the world of the concern kicked in," Aziz says successful the video, adding that they saw fume rising successful antithetic areas astir them.

"Locals told america 5 combatant jets had bombed a cement mill astatine 5 successful the morning. Nowhere was genuinely safe," helium added.

Akhtar and Aziz described their goodbyes with their usher erstwhile they yet reached Turkey’s borderline arsenic “emotional.”

"Even though we had conscionable met, helium sacrificed his ain family's safety, leaving them down successful Tehran to assistance us," Aziz says successful portion 2 of his video bid astir the experience. "And for this, we volition everlastingly beryllium grateful to him. But not everyone has the privilege of leaving similar we did. Millions of radical conscionable similar Ali are astatine the receiving extremity of the warfare that has thing to bash with them."