Over 3,000 Chinese Nationals Evacuated from Iran Amid Military Strikes

More than 3,000 Chinese citizens have been safely evacuated from Iran as of yesterday, Beijing Time, China's Foreign Ministry confirmed.

The evacuation came after sudden military strikes targeting Iran launched by Israel and the United States on February 28, which triggered a sharp deterioration of security in the country.

A Chinese national surnamed Wang, who arrived at the Astara border crossing in southern Azerbaijan in the early hours of yesterday, told Nanfang Daily that he had traveled from Tehran to the Astara port by taxi on March 1 local time and reached the border safely.

"Before evacuation, Tehran was rocked by constant bombings and smoke filled the air," Wang said.

Wang and his companions arrived in Tehran on February 26 by air, when a third round of indirect talks between Iran and the US was underway in Geneva, Switzerland, and regional tensions were widely seen as easing. On February 27, the group toured central Tehran and found life calm and relaxed, with locals playing music and singing in the evening.

The situation turned dire the next day. Wang decided to leave on the morning of March 1. With help from local residents and hotel staff, he took a taxi to the Astara crossing, passing heavily guarded checkpoints on the way out of Tehran.

"Iranian locals and hotel workers kept trying to help us even when mobile signals were cut off," Wang recalled. "When I left, I looked back and saw envy in their eyes."

When asked if they feared the war, some Iranians helping him said, "We have nothing to lose," a remark that deeply impressed Wang. Others told him: "We cannot leave. We hope you can reach safety."

A Chinese student evacuating to Azerbaijan told The Beijing News that the Chinese embassy in Iran had called him one day before the strikes to urge a quick departure. On March 1 local time, he took an embassy-organized bus to Azerbaijan and saw damage from the attacks along the route.

Many Chinese citizens did not have time to complete exit procedures due to the sudden escalation, the student added. Embassy staff coordinated closely with local border authorities to facilitate their passage.

Bao Lijun, president of the Association of Overseas Chinese in Azerbaijan, said yesterday that by 1pm that day, more than 70 compatriots had crossed into Azerbaijan via the Astara port and been transferred to the capital, Baku.

The association provided food, water and other supplies at the border and arranged buses to move evacuees to hotels in Baku, where they are properly accommodated.

The Chinese embassy in Azerbaijan and the overseas Chinese association will maintain a presence at the border to ensure the safe and smooth evacuation of Chinese nationals, Bao added.