Chinese nationals evacuate Iran as US–Israel air campaign pounds Tehran; embassy and community help coordinate departures

Rapid evacuation after heavy strikes

A large-scale US–Israel air campaign struck Iran on February 28, hitting Tehran hard and prompting most of the city's Chinese residents to leave the country within a week. The exodus accelerated after it has been reported that one Chinese national was killed in Tehran on March 2 — a development that reportedly deepened fear among the expatriate community. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said more than 3,000 Chinese citizens had evacuated Iran by March 2, and the majority of those who wanted to leave had done so by early March.

How they left and who helped

Evacuees described chaotic road departures, long passport checks and crowded border crossings, but overall an orderly movement. Many families drove south toward Iran’s southern provinces and then crossed into Azerbaijan — a route chosen because it was farther from the main fighting — rather than transiting through Iraq or Turkey as in prior evacuations. The Chinese Embassy (驻伊朗大使馆) and local Chinese Business Association (华商会) coordinated buses, food and temporary accommodation for arrivals in Baku, while Chinese volunteer mutual‑aid groups organized collection points and price controls for transport. Hotel rooms, assistance at borders and embassy presence helped keep the operation moving despite heavy traffic and several hours’ delay at exit controls.

On-the-ground experience and wider implications

Survivors recounted near misses and nights sleeping in luxury hotels as explosions echoed across Tehran’s districts. Some long‑term merchants delayed because their livelihoods and cargo — in ports such as Bandar Abbas — were left behind; others felt the intensity of strikes had escalated, “not like previous skirmishes but a broader siege,” a phrase used by multiple evacuees. It has been reported that perceptions of higher risk after reported attacks on senior figures contributed to the speed of departure, though such claims could not be independently verified. What happens next? With sanctions, regional tensions and trade ties all in play, many businesses will face difficult decisions about whether and when to return.