A Chinese national who has just fled Iran's capital Tehran has shared videos of Israel's nighttime bombings and detailed his own experience amid rising tensions as the air war between the two Middle East countries continued for a sixth consecutive day on Wednesday.
Liu Chongxin, an Iran-based entrepreneur, is now temporarily staying in a friend's villa in northwest Iran's Qazvin, which is about 150 kilometers from Tehran. He said life in this city appears pretty normal compared to the situation in the capital.
In a major escalation of regional tensions, Israel launched large-scale airstrikes early on June 13, targeting Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran responded with retaliatory strikes later that day, while the two sides have continued to trade missile attacks in the days since.
"I left Tehran yesterday. This latest round of conflict began on June 13, mostly involving nighttime bombings. But in reality, not many buildings were hit. From what I've learned, the bombings targeted Iran's oil depots, state TV station, and military buildings," Liu said.
The Chinese Embassy in Iran has issued an evacuation notice listing border points for entry into Türkiye, Armenia, and Turkmenistan. The embassy has released multiple advisories in recent days, urging Chinese citizens to increase safety precautions and closely follow developments.
Iran's airspace remains closed, and the embassy cautioned that the country's land border crossings may also close in the near future.
"Many Chinese nationals have left Iran on their own. Right now, a lot of people are exiting through borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Iraq," Liu said.
There are security checks at those crossings, which can take seven to eight hours, according to Liu.
Chinese national in Iran shares experience amid rising tensions
