Beijing urges Chinese in Iran to take safety precautions and leave country 'as soon as possible'
China advised its citizens to avoid travel to Iran and asked those in the country to leave “asap”citing a sharp increase in security risks, against the background of the intensification of tensions between Washington and Tehran.
China has warned its citizens to leave Iran urgently PHOTO Shutterstock
“Chinese nationals currently in Iran are advised to take safety precautions and leave the country as soon as possible”said the Department for Consular Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to Agerpres.
“In view of the current security situation in Iran, the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran remind their citizens to avoid any travel to the country at this time”he added.
The ministry assured that its Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran and neighboring countries will provide “necessary assistance” Chinese citizens who wish to leave the country by air or land.
For its part, the United States recommended on Friday that non-essential personnel from its embassy in Jerusalem leave Israel amid US threats of attacks against Iran.
The announcements come a day after the third round of talks in Geneva, brokered by Oman, between Iran and the United States, seen as a last-ditch effort to avoid war after the largest US military deployment in the Middle East in decades.
Increasingly tense situation in the East
The message comes on the same day that the US Embassy in Jerusalem told employees they can leave Israel immediately, amid speculation of a possible US attack on Iran. The warning was sent Friday by the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, in an email obtained and verified by The New York Times.
“Find a plane ticket to any destination” and leave “TODAY”he wrote, urging them to book a flight from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
So far, several countries have begun withdrawing family members of diplomatic staff and non-essential personnel from certain areas of the Middle East or advising their citizens to avoid travel to Iran, amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The US has staged one of the largest military deployments in the Middle East as it negotiates with Iran over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. The latest round of talks ended on Thursday with no sign of progress.
Iran has threatened to hit US bases in the region if attacked, and an escalation could also attract Israel. The two enemies fought a 12-day war in June last year.
