The Chinese government on Tuesday called on its citizens in Iran to leave the country “as soon as possible” as conflict between Iran and Israel escalated.
“The Chinese Embassy in Iran has coordinated with the Iranian side to facilitate outbound travel and reminds Chinese citizens currently in Iran to leave as soon as possible,” the Embassy said in an online post.
China also accused United States President Donald Trump of “pouring oil on the flames” after the US leader called on Tehran’s residents to “immediately evacuate.”
Following decades of hostility and a prolonged shadow war, Israel last week launched a surprise aerial campaign against targets across Iran, alleging it was acting to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions, a claim Iran strongly denied.
The escalation has raised fears of a broader conflict, prompting Trump to asked Iran to head back to the negotiating table after Israeli attacks disrupted ongoing nuclear talks.
Trump further issued an extraordinary warning on his Truth Social platform, stating: “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, “Fanning the flames, pouring oil, making threats and mounting pressure will not help de-escalate the situation, but will only intensify and broaden the conflict.
“The Chinese side calls on all relevant parties, especially those with special influence over Israel, to shoulder their responsibilities, take immediate measures to ease tensions, and avoid further escalation.”
On Tuesday, China’s Embassy in Israel also urged its nationals to leave the country “as soon as possible.”
“The Chinese mission in Israel reminds Chinese nationals to leave the country as soon as possible via land borders, provided their safety can be guaranteed,” the embassy said in a WeChat statement.
“It is recommended to depart in the direction of Jordan.”
The embassy described the conflict as “continuing to escalate.”
“Civilian infrastructure has sustained heavy damage, civilian casualties are on the rise, and the security situation is becoming more serious,” it said.
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