The Chinese government has safely evacuated 3,125 citizens from Iran and assisted over 500 more in leaving Israel amid the escalation of tensions between the two warring countries, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday.
Speaking at a daily press briefing in Beijing, Guo Jiakun, the spokesman, gave an update on the organization and coordination of the Chinese citizens' evacuation from Iran and Israel.
"According to decisions and plans made by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Foreign Ministry, Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran and other countries, along with the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Administration of China, 3,125 Chinese nationals have been safely evacuated from Iran. Among them are a 10-month-old baby, a 70-year-old senior, and residents from both Hong Kong and Taiwan. All Chinese nationals in Iran who expressed a desire to evacuate have been relocated to safe areas. The Chinese government has successfully concluded the organized evacuation of its citizens from the country," said Guo.
"Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Israel has helped with the safe evacuation of over 500 Chinese citizens, and has also assisted a number of foreign nationals from countries including the United Kingdom, India, and Poland," he said.
"Throughout the evacuation process, we are deeply grateful to Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Türkiye, Iraq, the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, and other countries for their valuable support and assistance. We remind those who have chosen to stay to exercise extreme caution and prioritize safety. Chinese diplomats in both Iran and Israel will continue to stand by their posts and make best efforts to assist Chinese citizens still in the region," said the spokesman.
3,125 Chinese nationals safely evacuated from Iran, over 500 from Israel: spokesman
3,125 Chinese nationals safely evacuated from Iran, over 500 from Israel: spokesman
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
