Armenia and Azerbaijan Welcome 1,500 Evacuees from Iran
Amid ongoing conflicts involving Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan have facilitated the evacuation of approximately 1,500 individuals from Iran. This development is primarily attributed to the escalating tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Evacuation Details
Azerbaijan has taken in around 1,200 evacuees, with a striking majority being foreign nationals. According to reports from Azerbaijani media outlet APA, only four evacuees were Iranian citizens. The distribution of these evacuees includes:
- 361 Chinese nationals
- 246 Russians
- 99 Tajiks
- 224 Azerbaijani nationals
On Wednesday, Azerbaijan reported an additional 21 people evacuated via the Astara State Border with Iran. This group included Tajiks, Pakistanis, Chinese, and French nationals.
Armenia’s Contributions
Meanwhile, Armenia has reportedly received around 400 evacuees from Iran between Monday and Tuesday. This group consisted of approximately 300 Iranian nationals. Russian state-owned news agency Sputnik noted that these individuals, including foreign diplomats, were utilizing the Meghri checkpoint to flee, as Iran’s airspace remains closed.
Border Closures and Context
Azerbaijan has not permitted crossings at its land border since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with authorities frequently extending the closure. Neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan has disclosed the total number of border crossings from Iran since the conflict began in late February.
The situation has prompted both Armenia and Azerbaijan, along with Georgia, to navigate carefully amidst the escalating conflict involving Iran.
