China has accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of exacerbating tensions between Iran and Israel, following his stark warning urging Iranian residents to “immediately evacuate” amid rising hostilities.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun criticized Trump’s remarks, warning that his inflammatory rhetoric could worsen the already volatile situation.
“Fanning the flames, pouring oil, making threats, and mounting pressure will not help de-escalate the situation, but will only intensify and widen the conflict,” Guo stated. He urged all involved parties—particularly nations with significant influence over Israel—to take immediate steps to reduce tensions and prevent further escalation.
The conflict between Israel and Iran escalated sharply last week after Israel launched a surprise aerial offensive on multiple Iranian targets. Israel said the attacks were aimed at thwarting Iran’s alleged efforts to develop nuclear weapons—an accusation Tehran has repeatedly denied.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, issued an extraordinary warning urging residents in Iran to evacuate immediately, while also calling on Tehran to return to the negotiating table following the disruption of nuclear talks.
China, a key global player and one of the signatories of the original Iran nuclear deal, has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation. On Tuesday, the Chinese embassy in Israel advised its citizens to leave the country “as soon as possible” due to the escalating conflict.
“The Chinese mission in Israel reminds Chinese nationals to leave the country as soon as possible via land border crossings, on the precondition that they can guarantee their personal safety,” the embassy said in a statement on its official WeChat account, recommending evacuation through Jordan.
“The conflict continues to escalate. Much civilian infrastructure has been damaged, civilian casualties are on the rise, and the security situation is becoming more serious,” the statement added.
With fears mounting over the possibility of a broader regional war, international pressure is growing on all sides to exercise restraint and seek diplomatic solutions.
