The Agarak checkpoint on the Armenian-Iranian border has witnessed unprecedented traffic flows in recent days as hundreds flee escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
The crossing serves multiple groups: Iranian citizens escaping bombings, foreign nationals transiting to home countries, and surprisingly, Iranian tourists returning home via Armenia after overseas trips.
Daniel Saljughyan, an Iranian citizen among the returnees, expressed defiance, "We're around 200 people, tourists (coming back from) Russia. We came back to Iran from Armenia. We [are not afraid] of war and we hate Israel. And we go in Iran because Iran is mine, is ours."
Dong, a Chinese businessman residing in Iran, provided insight into the domestic situation.
"Most of the cities, they are safe and people there [are calm]. But some areas, for example, Tehran, (are not safe), because there are attacks in Tehran almost every day, every night. So a lot of people, maybe the rich people, they leave Tehran to other cities in the north. But other people, if they don't have (resources), I mean the poor people, the normal people, they don't have money, they don't have another house in other city, they just stay at the home. Even I call a lot of my friends, I say, 'now in Tehran it's not safe, please come to our city'. They say, 'no, this is my home, I will stay here, even the bomb kills me, I will stay here,'" he said.
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.
Regional tensions escalated after Israel launched large-scale airstrikes early last Friday, targeting Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran responded with retaliatory strikes later that day, and the two sides have continued to trade missile attacks in the days since.
Agarak border crossing becomes lifeline amid Israel-Iran tensions
