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China has issued urgent calls for its citizens to leave both Iran and Israel as tensions between the two Middle Eastern countries intensify, warning that the escalating violence poses serious risks to civilians and could trigger a wider regional crisis.
In a statement posted online on Tuesday, June 17, the Chinese Embassy in Iran announced it had coordinated with local 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 statement read.
The advisory follows a surprise aerial offensive launched by Israel last week, targeting key sites in Iran. The Israeli government described the strikes as a preemptive move to curb Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons development—an accusation Tehran continues to deny.
Amid rising tensions, former U.S. President Donald Trump posted a warning on his Truth Social platform, urging residents of Tehran to evacuate immediately. His remarks drew a swift rebuke from Beijing.
At a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun criticized Trump’s comments, accusing him of worsening the crisis.
“Fanning the flames, pouring oil, making threats, and mounting pressure will not promote de-escalation but will only intensify and widen the conflict,” Guo said.
He urged all involved—especially nations with strong influence over Israel—to take immediate action to reduce tensions.
“The Chinese side calls on all relevant parties, particularly 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,” he added.
Simultaneously, China’s embassy in Israel issued a similar advisory, calling on Chinese nationals to leave due to the deteriorating security situation.
“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 via its official WeChat account.
It advised travel toward Jordan where feasible, citing increasing damage to civilian infrastructure, rising casualties, and a rapidly worsening security climate.
On June 17, air raid sirens sounded across multiple cities in Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, after the Israeli defense system intercepted multiple missiles launched from Iran. AFP journalists reported explosions over the cities, with residents seeking shelter in underground parking garages.
The volatile exchange has sparked global alarm, especially as it threatens to derail ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and world powers. Trump—whose administration withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018—has called for Tehran to return to the negotiating table. However, the recent military escalation has cast doubt over the prospects for diplomacy.
Meanwhile, more than 600 foreign nationals have reportedly fled Iran into neighboring Azerbaijan as the conflict continues to intensify.
