A total of 87 Chinese citizens evacuated from Iran arrived in the Azerbaijani capital Baku on the early morning of Saturday. With the assistance of the Chinese Embassy in Iran, four buses carrying 87 Chinese citizens on Friday departed from an area near Tabriz, the capital of Iran's East Azerbaijan Province, for the Astara border crossing between Iran and Azerbaijan. For several consecutive days, a team from the embassy has been working at the border area, providing necessary security and consular service for Chinese citizens evacuated from Iran. At around 04:30 on Saturday morning local time (00:30 GMT), the 87 Chinese citizens safely arrived in Baku. The evacuees say they managed to cross the border into Azerbaijan quickly and smoothly with the help and coordination of the Chinese Embassy in Iran. In the meantime, the staff of the Chinese Embassy in Azerbaijan were already waiting at the border exit to receive the evacuees, and the local Chinese chamber of commerce were also there to provide assistance. Regional tensions escalated after Israel launched large-scale airstrikes early last Friday, targeting Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran responded with retaliatory strikes later that day, and the two sides have continued to trade missile attacks in the days since. Shotlist: East Azerbaijan Province, Iran - June 20, 2025: 1. Various of Chinese citizens waiting for evacuation, getting on bus; Astara border crossing, Iran - June 21, 2025 2. Photo of evacuated Chinese citizens at Astara border crossing; Baku, Azerbaijan - June 21, 2025 3. Bus carrying evacuated Chinese citizens arriving; 4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Qian Lanying, evacuated Chinese from Iran: "Although we are very tired after a whole night's journey here, the staff of our embassies in both countries worked even harder. Whether it was entering Azerbaijan or leaving Iran, the embassy staff provided us with patience, guidance and assistance. Looking back on this journey, I truly feel that a powerful motherland is a strong and reliable backing for us. Thank you, my motherland."; East Azerbaijan Province, Iran - June 20, 2025 5. Bus for evacuating Chinese citizens arriving; 6. Various of Chinese citizens waiting for evacuation, getting on bus. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International TV]