China has issued urgent calls for its citizens to leave both Iran and Israel as conflict between the two Middle Eastern nations intensifies, warning that the escalating violence poses serious risks to civilians and could spiral into a broader regional crisis.
In a statement posted online on Tuesday, June 17, the Chinese Embassy in Iran announced that it had coordinated with Iranian authorities to facilitate the safe departure of Chinese nationals. “The Chinese Embassy in Iran has coordinated with the Iranian side to facilitate outbound travel and reminds Chinese citizens currently in Iran to leave the country… as soon as possible,” the embassy said.
The advisory follows a surprise aerial offensive launched by Israel last week targeting key sites in Iran. The Israeli government has described the strikes as a preemptive measure aimed at curbing Iran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons, an accusation Tehran continues to deny.
Amid the rising tensions, former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a public warning on his Truth Social platform urging residents of Tehran to evacuate immediately. The message triggered a sharp rebuke from Beijing.
Speaking at a press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun criticized Trump’s remarks, accusing him of exacerbating the crisis. “Fanning the flames, pouring oil, making threats and mounting pressure will not help to promote the de-escalation of the situation, but will only intensify and widen the conflict,” Guo said.
He called on all parties involved, particularly those with significant influence over Israel, to take immediate steps to calm tensions. “The Chinese side calls on all relevant parties, especially countries with special influence on Israel, to shoulder their responsibilities, take immediate measures to de-escalate tensions, and prevent the conflict from expanding and spreading.”
Simultaneously, China’s embassy in Israel issued a similar advisory, urging its citizens to leave the country due to the deteriorating security environment. “The Chinese mission in Israel reminds Chinese nationals to leave the country as soon as possible via land border crossings, on the precondition that they can guarantee their personal safety,” the embassy said on WeChat, advising travel toward Jordan where possible.
The embassy highlighted the seriousness of the conflict, stating that civilian infrastructure has been damaged, casualties are mounting, and the security situation is rapidly deteriorating.
On Tuesday, June 17, air raid sirens sounded across several parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, after Israeli defense systems detected multiple missiles launched from Iran. AFP journalists reported hearing explosions over the cities as residents sought shelter in underground parking facilities.
The volatile exchange has raised international alarm, especially as it threatens to derail ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and world powers. Trump, whose previous administration withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, has called on Tehran to return to the negotiating table, but the new military confrontations have cast doubt over the future of diplomatic efforts.
Meanwhile, over 600 foreign nationals have reportedly fled Iran into neighboring Azerbaijan as the conflict continues to intensify.
