China urges citizens to leave Iran as fears of US military strike grow
China has warned its citizens to avoid travelling to Iran and advised those already in the country to leave immediately, amid escalating tensions and growing fears of a possible United States military attack.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Iran had become “highly undesirable” due to rising security risks. Chinese embassies and consulates were instructed to alert nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to the country.
“In light of the current security situation in Iran, China’s Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran remind Chinese citizens to avoid travelling to Iran for the time being,” the ministry said.
“Chinese nationals currently in Iran are advised to strengthen safety precautions and evacuate as soon as possible.”
China now joins a growing list of countries issuing evacuation and travel advisories for citizens in Iran and other parts of the Middle East, as fears mount that the region could be drawn into a wider conflict if Washington follows through on threats of military action.
Since the start of the year, the US has been deploying troops and military equipment across the Middle East in what analysts describe as the largest build-up in over two decades. Tensions escalated further after US President Donald Trump issued warnings to Tehran, including threats of bombing Iran if protests were violently suppressed, although he later appeared to soften his rhetoric.
Washington has justified potential military action as a move to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a claim analysts have questioned, noting that Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the Iran nuclear deal during his first term. Tehran has repeatedly maintained that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
Diplomatic efforts have also stalled. The sixth round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the US failed to produce a breakthrough, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying key differences remain. Iran has warned it would respond “decisively” to any US aggression, with Armed Forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi cautioning that any attack would trigger an unprecedented response.
China, a long-time ally and major trading partner of Iran, has consistently opposed US military action, warning that it would destabilise the entire region. China’s permanent representative to the UN, Fu Cong, said: “The use of force cannot solve problems. Any acts of military adventurism will only push the region into an abyss of unpredictability.”
Other countries have also taken precautionary measures. The United Kingdom and Canada confirmed the temporary withdrawal of non-essential embassy staff from Tehran, while Australia ordered the families of its diplomats to leave Israel and Lebanon.
The growing wave of evacuations reflects deepening international concern that a direct US-Iran confrontation could ignite a broader regional conflict.
