A Chinese citizen who managed to flee Tehran has recounted the urgent evacuation amid the tensions and uncertainties brought by the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.
Wang Boyang had worked in Tehran for two years as the deputy secretary-general of the Iran Federation of Overseas Chinese Association. He and his team successfully crossed the Astara border into Azerbaijan when the security situation in Iran deteriorated due to the escalation of Iran-Israel conflict since June 13.
The exchange of missiles between Iran and Israel caused the two countries and other nations in the Middle East to close their airspace and even suspend the operation of many airports. As people stranded in Iran have been scrambling to evacuate through land ports, the country is facing fuel shortage, Wang told China Global Television Network (CGTN) after safely entering Azerbaijan on Tuesday.
"We set off on the night of June 16 and arrived at the border on the morning of the 17th. But it wasn't until the evening of the 17th that people started crossing the border at a faster pace. There's a major fuel shortage in Tehran and the surrounding cities. At some gas stations, the line of cars waiting for refueling stretched over three kilometers. The journey from Tehran to the Astara border crossing is about 470 kilometers, and it took us nearly 12 hours to get there," said Wang.
He said that the Israeli bombings and warnings as well as the Internet blackout have forced the panicking residents to flee Tehran, leaving the Iranian capital an "empty city."
"Tehran has almost turned into an empty city. Israel's evacuation warnings triggered widespread panic among Iranians. For example, they issued an order to evacuate a zone in District 2, saying heavy bombing was imminent, and soon, by around 16:00 that day, the Iranian state TV station was bombed -- proving that their warnings are often followed through. Since the 16th, all foreign nationals' phones in Iran have been blocked and there is no signal at all. Iranian phones could still make calls, but there was no internet access. So essentially, for about two to three days, we were completely out of contact," said Wang.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Thursday that more than 1,600 Chinese nationals have been safely evacuated from Iran, while hundreds more have been relocated from Israel. The ministry and relevant diplomatic missions are sparing no effort to help transfer more citizens to neighboring countries.
Chinese citizen recounts urgent evacuation from Iran amid escalating conflict
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday called for advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance with higher standards and more concrete measures.
Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in Beijing.
Xi urged efforts to confine power to an institutional cage in a more well-conceived and effective manner, and press ahead with the anti-corruption fight with a clearer understanding and stronger resolve, thus providing a strong guarantee for achieving the goals and tasks of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).
Xi pointed out that in 2025, the CPC Central Committee had intensified efforts to improve Party conduct, uphold integrity and combat corruption, achieving notable results. Xi said efforts were made to maintain a tough stance against corruption and eradicate the breeding grounds and conditions for corruption.
Xi emphasized that implementing the major decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee is a fundamental requirement for upholding its authority and its centralized, unified leadership.
Party organizations at all levels and Party members and officials should implement the decisions and plans of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee with concrete actions, he said.
Xi noted that confining power to an institutional cage is an important task in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance.
He stressed that all are equal before the law and regulations, that compliance with them admits no privilege, and that enforcement of the law and regulations allows no exception.
Xi underscored that the fight against corruption is a major struggle that the Party cannot afford to lose, and must never lose.
He said that the current anti-corruption situation remains grave and complex, and that the task of eliminating the soil and conditions breeding corruption remains arduous. Xi added that it is essential to maintain a firm stance to leave corrupt officials with no place to hide.
Stressing the need to stay attuned to new trends and features of corruption, Xi urged efforts to innovate methods and approaches, promptly detect and accurately identify corrupt practices, and effectively address all forms of corruption, so as to continuously enhance the penetrating power of anti-corruption efforts.
He also urged strengthening coordination among all forms of oversight to advance integrated governance through whole-process collaboration, and called for sustained efforts to forge a loyal, upright and responsible disciplinary inspection and supervision force that dares to and is good at fighting against corruption.
Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang attended the meeting.
Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CCDI, presided over the meeting. On Monday afternoon, on behalf of the standing committee of the CCDI, Li also delivered a work report.
Xi urges advancing Party self-governance with higher standards, more concrete measures
