A total of 87 Chinese citizens evacuated from Iran arrived in the Azerbaijani capital Baku on the early morning of Saturday.
With the assistance of the Chinese Embassy in Iran, four buses carrying 87 Chinese citizens on Friday departed from an area near Tabriz, the capital of Iran's East Azerbaijan Province, for the Astara border crossing between Iran and Azerbaijan.
For several consecutive days, a team from the embassy has been working at the border area, providing necessary security and consular service for Chinese citizens evacuated from Iran.
At around 04:30 on Saturday morning local time (00:30 GMT), the 87 Chinese citizens safely arrived in Baku.
The evacuees say they managed to cross the border into Azerbaijan quickly and smoothly with the help and coordination of the Chinese Embassy in Iran.
In the meantime, the staff of the Chinese Embassy in Azerbaijan were already waiting at the border exit to receive the evacuees, and the local Chinese chamber of commerce were also there to provide assistance.
"Although we are very tired after a whole night's journey here, the staff of our embassies in both countries worked even harder. Whether it was entering Azerbaijan or leaving Iran, the embassy staff provided us with patience, guidance and assistance. Looking back on this journey, I truly feel that a powerful motherland is a strong and reliable backing for us. Thank you, my motherland," said Qian Lanying, an evacuated Chinese from Iran.
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.
87 Chinese evacuated from Iran arrive in Baku
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
