Most Chinese nationals evacuated from Iran: Chinese embassy

(ECNS) -- Most Chinese nationals had been evacuated from Iran as of Saturday via neighboring countries including Türkiye, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Iraq, and the remaining had also moved away from high-risk zones, the Chinese Embassy in Iran announced on Sunday.

As the conflict between Iran and Israel rapidly deteriorated, the desire among Chinese nationals in Iran to evacuate grew increasingly stronger, said Fu Lihua, charge d 'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Iran.

Fu stressed that the embassy prioritizes the safety of Chinese compatriots in Iran, consistently issuing security alerts and self-protection guidelines. It proactively reached out to Chinese nationals and enterprises to guide them to avoid risks, while maintaining close communication with relevant Iranian authorities to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals and customs clearance.

According to Fu, embassy staff members have been working around the clock to handle calls, verify the number of evacuees, and provide route guidance for them.

The embassy dispatched a team to the Bajgiran border crossing between Iran and Turkmenistan to assist Chinese nationals with customs clearance procedures, she said.

It has arranged 17 buses in four batches to help Chinese nationals evacuate via land border crossings, with a working group set up to coordinate related affairs at the Astara border crossing between Iran and Azerbaijan, where there is a high concentration of people leaving Iran, Fu added.

(By Zhang Dongfang)