China Blasts Trump’s Tehran Evacuation Call, Says It Fuels Conflict

(MENAFN) China condemned US President Donald Trump’s urgent call for Iranians to evacuate Tehran on Tuesday, branding it as “adding fuel to the fire” in an already volatile Iran-Israel confrontation.

During a press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized, "Adding fuel to the fire, making threats, and exerting pressure will not help ease the situation – it will only intensify contradictions and widen the conflict," according to a Chinese media.

Guo warned that the current surge in Middle Eastern tensions serves no one’s interests and appealed to “relevant parties, especially countries with particular influence over Israel” — a pointed reference to the United States — to take responsibility and swiftly act to defuse the crisis.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump posted on Truth Social, “everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” He further criticized Iran for not accepting the nuclear deal, stating, “Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.”

Highlighting the urgency of diplomacy, Guo added, “The immediate priority is to cease hostilities, take effective measures to prevent further escalation, and avert greater instability in the region. Returning to dialogue and negotiations for a political settlement reflects the broad consensus of the international community.”

This development comes on the heels of a Monday joint declaration from foreign ministers of 21 nations condemning Israel’s air raids on Iranian territory. The coalition demanded regional de-escalation, unconditional nuclear disarmament, and adherence to international law. Signatories included Türkiye, Jordan, the UAE, Pakistan, Bahrain, Brunei, Chad, Gambia, Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Libya, Egypt, and Mauritania.

Guo expressed Beijing’s support for this collective statement, saying it “welcomes the joint statement by Egypt and other Arab, Islamic and African countries and commends their efforts to de-escalate the situation.”

The spokesperson also voiced “deep concern” over Israeli attacks targeting Iranian state TV, urging all involved “to immediately take measures to cool down the tensions as soon as possible and prevent the region from falling into greater turmoil.”

Calling for a ceasefire, Guo stressed, a ceasefire and an end to the war are of “paramount urgency, and only dialogue and consultation can bring lasting peace.”

In a related move, the Chinese Embassy in Tel Aviv advised Chinese nationals in Israel to evacuate “as soon as possible.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo stated that the ministry, along with its embassies, is actively coordinating efforts to "swiftly evacuate" Chinese nationals from both Iran and Israel.

The conflict intensified last Friday after Israel launched airstrikes on various Iranian military and nuclear sites, triggering retaliatory missile attacks from Tehran.

Israeli officials report at least 24 fatalities and hundreds wounded from Iranian missile strikes, while Iranian authorities claim over 224 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries from Israeli assaults.

This rapid escalation underscores the urgent need for international intervention to prevent a wider regional crisis.

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