Hundreds of Iranians, foreign nationals flee to Armenia amid worsening Israel-Iran conflict

A growing number of Iranians and foreign nationals are crossing into Armenia through Agarak checkpoint, the sole operational border checkpoint between the two countries, fleeing intensified hostilities between Israel and Iran.

Eyewitnesses report long queues of families and individuals carrying heavy luggage, their faces marked by exhaustion and anxiety. Many have left relatives behind, uncertain of when or if, they can return.

Aliteza Shaker Nia was forced to leave his 80-year-old ailing mother behind in Shiraz as he fled with his family to Armenia, planning to return to Norway, where he lives. He was on a two-week vacation in Iran when everything changed in an instant.

Fab Barzi, an Iranian-Canadian, had just got married, but was forced to leave his wife, who stayed behind with her family. Barzi fled the bombings in Tehran and is now making his way back to Canada through Armenia.

"It's a very bad situation now everywhere actually. The flights are coming and they're attacking with the bombs in the different spots. So that's why you you're not actually safe there," he said.

The Chinese Embassy in Yerevan has assisted over 600 Chinese nationals, including tourists, business personnel and students, in evacuating from Iran since the conflict began.

Shanghai resident Paul Li recounted seeing missiles mid-flight during his trip.

"We were traveling in Iran, Bandar Abbas, in cities like Yazd, like Esfahan, some cities. We saw bombs and missiles flying in the sky. And the situation came to an emergency, we [saw] we should leave Iran. We are planning on traveling, keep traveling in Armenia," said Li.

Mehgri Mayor Khachtur Andreasyan confirmed most arrivals are third-country nationals, with only 30 percent being Iranian citizens, primarily those with existing Armenian business or family ties. These are not refugees but people with established connections, he emphasized.

Armenian authorities have yet to release official border crossing statistics, but local observers note daily increases in arrivals. The single border post, normally processing tourists, now faces unprecedented humanitarian traffic as regional tensions escalate. 

Hundreds of Iranians, foreign nationals flee to Armenia amid worsening Israel-Iran conflict

Hundreds of Iranians, foreign nationals flee to Armenia amid worsening Israel-Iran conflict

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.

In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.

"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.

This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.

By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.

China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.

The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.

"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.

China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting