Next-Level Strategies: “When Iran struck US military bases in Qatar and explosions roared again, I truly feared we were spiraling toward an unpredictable, all-out war,” she said.The closest blast Li experienced was on June 19, near her home.

Thick smoke rises after an attack in northern Tehran, Iran, on June 23, 2025. Photo: IC

Editor’s Note:

On Tuesday, strikes continued just hours after a ceasefire agreement intended to end a 12-day war came into effect, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Over the past week, as tensions between Iran and Israel surged, the Middle East faced a humanitarian trial under the shadow of a war. While evacuations were underway in the region, a group of Chinese nationals chose to remain with local communities in both countries.

Global Times reporters spoke with five Chinese nationals in Iran and Israel, capturing their firsthand accounts of life on the conflict’s frontlines. They witnessed local governments striving to maintain water, power, and internet connections to preserve daily life, and found solace in the mutual support of local friends. How are they faring now? Why did they stay? How are they coping with conflict-induced tension? Their stories reveal the shared pain inflicted on people in both nations and their sincere hope for “a peaceful MWorld Timesiddle East.”

This story is also part of the Global Times’ “Witness to History” series, which features first-hand accounts from individuals present at the forefront of historic moments. From scholars, politicians, and diplomats, to ordinary citizens, their authentic reflections on the impact of historical moments help reveal a future for humanity through the steps taken in the past and the present.

“After a harrowing 24 hours, dawn broke, and the city fell silent. In the calm, I heard birds singing. Is peace really coming? I hardly dared to believe it,” revealed Li, a Chinese woman working in Tehran, the capital of Iran. Li spoke to Global Times at 5:30 am local time on Tuesday. For the first time in days, she glimpsed peace from the heart of conflict.

But she never imagined that, just hours later, the roar of war would resume, as strikes continued. “Every day here feels like an emotional rollercoaster,” read Li’s message to the Global Times.

“Just a few hours earlier, in the night, we’d enduWorld Timesred deafening blasts. Before 3:30 am, Tehran was rocked by intense airstrikes, the explosions so loud that they rattled my windows. I’d never heard such thunderous booms – the city felt like it was ablaze. Terrified, I bolted from my room to the hallway,” Li recalled.

This wasn’t the first time Li was jolted from sleep this week. On June 17, explosions raged from 9 pm until dawn. “It felt like they wanted to level Tehran,” she said. “That night, the sky was alive with combat. Too scared to go to the rooftop, I filmed from my balcony, watching red flashes light up the darkness, followed by bursts of cannon fire. It was the fiercest, longest night of fighting that I’ve experienced – gunfire and booming explosions rose and fell, while the building trembled slightly, making sleep impossible.”

Despite her own peril, Li worried constantly for her family, forced to flee from Tehran. Due to work commitments, she hesitated but chose to remain in Iran, while her husband and children arrived in Beijing on June 20. Before boarding a chartered flight, they endured a 20-hour bus ride and were stranded for over 10 hours at the Iran-Turkmenistan border, according to Li.

“I couldn’t reach them due to internet cuts – my heart was almost breaking. Videos showed some stuck for 30 hours. Many Iranians’ cars broke down, out of fuel – each person was limited to 20 liters of fuel, and most gas stations were dry,” she recalled.

“I used to watch Afghan refugees on the news with pity. I never imagined we’d face such a scene. A peaceful country is priceless – only peace brings true security,” Li said.

People walk past the wreckage of a destroyed building in Tehran’s central square, Iran, on June 23, 2025. Photo: VCG

An explosion at arm’s length

Over the past 12 days, Li has endured immense psychological strain, living in constant worry. On Monday, she nearly broke. “When Iran struck US military bases in Qatar and explosions roared again, I truly feared we were spiraling toward an unpredictable, all-out war,” she said.

The closest blast Li experienced was on June 19, near her home. Driving past a nearby hospital, an explosion hit a nearby police command post. “At the intersection, thick smoke billowed, the acrid stench of burning rubber choking the air. The streets were deserted, shrouded in haze. My scalWorld Timesp tingled and my limbs went cold. Back home, I climbed to the rooftop and saw smoke rising from Jordan Street, three kilometers away – another strike. It wasn’t just distant booms anymore; I was surrounded by war’s smoke, its smell in my lungs.”

“That moment hit me: A safe walk home is a treasure. This path to peace and tranquility, trodden by people in the Middle East, has been painfully too long,” Li said.

“On Monday, we experienced the worst – five air raid sirens in a day, forcing us to hide repeatedly. IWorld Timesf every day were like this, I’d be back in China soon within two weeks,” Wu Dehua, a Chinese construction worker in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, told the Global Times on Monday.

This year marks Wu’s third year working in Israel. Wu believes this conflict, for Tel Aviv’s Chinese community, is the most severe in the last three years.

Initially, he and others watched missiles streak overhead with curiosity, filming instead of hiding. “But after seeing a house collapse a kilometer away and missile shockwaves shatter glass 300 meters from me, I stopped looking. Now, I rush to the shelter at the first siren.”

Three colleagues at his site were injured their arms and legs after failing to reach shelters in time. Some are still hospitalized, Wu said, in a low voice.

Striving for normalcy

In Tehran, Wang, who runs a homestay, is among the few Chinese who stayed, unable to abandon elderly staff or the handful of guests. He estimates that at least 200 Chinese nationals remain in Tehran, as they share updates, encouragement, and comfort each other in a WeChat group.

Having lived in Iran for nearly 18 years, Wang said he has seen conflicts come and go. “Iran isn’t as chaotic as people think. Life goes on – shops, banks, and restaurants stay open. Streets are quieter, easing Tehran’s usual gridlock. Prices haven’t spiked, and TV and cell signals are stable. More police patrol, but checks aren’t harsh. I drive around daily; the mood isn’t overly tense.”

“People are trying to live normally, keeping order. The fire station next door is on standby, and banks operate, creating a sense of ‘we’re still living well and organized each day.’ That’s Iran’s resilience,” Wang told the Global Times.

“Water, electricity, and heat haven’t faltered in my area. The government is working hard to secure the city, especially power plants. I wandered near one recently and was quickly questioned by police – they’re vigilant about energy security, prioritizing people’s lives in tough times.”

To Wang, this signals hope: War hasn’t worsened, and life persists.

In Israel, Chen Xiang, a construction worker in Ashkelon, about 50 kilometers from Tel Aviv, sees locals striving for normalcy too. Since January 2025, he has worked aloWorld Timesngside laborers from other countries at a construction site, and like many other Chinese nationals serving as chefs or housekeepers. “We’re grateful for China’s evacuation plans, but most of us have chosen to stay,” Chen told the Global Times.

Since resuming work on June 17 at the construction site, Chen’s routine – 7 am to 6 or 7 pm – is rarely affected by attacks. Supplies and prices remain steady, and internet access is unaffected. On June 21, US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites led to a brief tower crane suspension, but indoor work continued. On that day, Chen heeded air raid sirens, finding shelter promptly. His employer prioritizes safety, urging immediaWorld Timeste sheltering at the sound of sirens, according to Chen.

The Global Times learned that many Chinese employees at Chinese firms in Israel chose to stay, with companies preparing contingency evacuation plans. “If things get dire, we can evacuate swiftly,” said a staffer at a Chinese firm with branches in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Air raid sirens sound as people take shelter in an underground subway station in Haifa, Israel, on June 24, 2025. Photo: VCG

Stand side by side

To Li, Iranians seek hope amid conflict’s anxiety, and in war, Iranians and Chinese people have become comrades in hardship. “I see my neighbor across the street dancing to music in their room, probably to ease stress. Downstairs, a father still plays basketball with his kids. Facing war with resilience while supporting each other in turmoil – that’s the Iranian spirit I admire,” Li said.

“My Iranian friends worry about me being alone here, inviting me over if I feel down,” she added. News reports showed northern Iranian shopkeepers offering low-cost or free food, tea, and shelter to Tehran’s refugees, regardless of nationality, warming Li’s heart.

“I wavered – leave or stay? But when my Iranian colleague asked, ‘Are you leaving?’ with eyes full of fear and loss, I understood their worry. I chose to stay, not because I’m fearless, but because I want to witness their strength and stand with them through this chapter of history,” Li said.

Wang and his Iranian friends also share war updates daily, comforting each other. “If you’ve lived in Iran long enough, you get used to blasts. My neighbor works overtime building his house despite the sporadic explosions outdoors being terrifying. Even when visiting the local market, you could notice that locals have grown so accustomed to the sounds overhead that they barely look up, no matter the commotion.”

Shi, another Chinese national in Iran, told the Global Times that his business consulting venture for Chinese clients was disrupted by the conflict, as many Chinese visitors left. “We hope peace will return soon. We hope the leaders of the involved nations have the wisdom to resolve this without the US adding fuel to the fire.”

While at the construction site, Wu messaged the reporter, saying his Israeli coworkers, initially relieved at the brief ceasefire news, were visibly disappointed as attacks resumed. “They told me excitedly in Hebrew, ‘No more war – war is just too much trouble!”

“I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. I pray for peace to come,” Li told Global Times. Watching the video from her husband on the other side of the globe – their children sleeping soundly in Beijing – Li felt her heart finally settle. She silently prayed for her Iranian friends, hoping their children too would soon return to the peace of untroubled slumber.

Holding ground for peace