25 Chinese citizens evacuated from Iran via Turkmenistan
Amid the escalating security situation in Iran, the first batch of 25 Chinese citizens evacuated from the country via Turkmenistan boarded a flight for home on Wednesday morning.
According to the Embassy of China in Turkmenistan, the group entered Turkmenistan via the Sarakhs border checkpoint on Tuesday before being transferred onward to board a flight in the early hours of Wednesday.
The embassy reminded Chinese citizens that in order to facilitate their swift evacuation, the Turkmen side has opened the Bajgiran border crossing. From Wednesday, it is suggested that those who plan to return to home via Turkmenistan should leave Iran through the Bajgiran border crossing.
"As the sudden conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran escalated so rapidly, the Consular Section of the Chinese Embassy in Iran contacted us immediately when it began on February 28. They acted swiftly to confirm whether our company had suffered any property losses or casualties among our employees and equipment. Within just three days, they had arranged the safest and fastest route for our return home," said a Chinese entrepreneur in Iran.
"Our journey (of leaving Iran) is very safe," said a Chinese student studying in Iran.
More than 130 nationals from China, Russia, the United States, Sweden, Türkiye, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have been safely evacuated from Iran via Turkmenistan, according to data released by Turkmen authorities on Tuesday.
"We are happy that we arrived in Turkmenistan in a short time. We didn't encounter any trouble at the border crossing. We came here very quickly and now we feel quite safe," said a Turkish citizen.
"Because the situation (in Iran) is very bad these days, we have no way out. Thanks to the help of the Turkmen government, we were able to come here safely and escape from the war," said a Finnish citizen.
