In the midst of Israel's destructive attacks on Iran, a lone female traveler manages to navigate her escape
In the heart of Iran, a 24-year-old Taiwanese traveler named Ariel Kang Chengxuan found herself in the midst of escalating tensions. As the Middle East braced for impact, Ariel was exploring Isfahan, a city rich in history and home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites.
On June 12, the situation took a dramatic turn when Israel launched airstrikes against Iranian nuclear targets, significantly heightening tensions in the region. Ariel became fully aware of the severity of the conflict on that day.
Despite the danger, Ariel found the people of Iran to be amazing and hospitable. However, language barriers made it challenging for her to gauge the locals' true feelings about the situation. Some expressed a negative view of their government and wished to leave, blaming it for the poor economy.
On June 14, Ariel decided to leave Iran. Her journey back home was fraught with challenges. She encountered black smoke and gunfire while traveling to Tehran, causing her concern. However, she managed to cross into Turkey at midnight and took another 22 hours to reach Istanbul, where she caught a flight back to Taiwan.
The US State Department and Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) had issued strong travel advisories against visiting Iran due to the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, or arbitrary arrest. In response to the escalating conflict, MOFA raised the travel advisory for Iran to Level 4 (red), the highest alert level in their four-tier system. This level indicates extreme danger and urges Taiwanese nationals currently in Iran to leave immediately for their safety.
Taiwanese nationals in Iran are advised to maintain communication with family and friends, keep phones charged, and contact the nearest Taiwanese representative office for assistance. Since Taiwan has no representative office in Iran, Taiwanese should contact the Commercial Office of Taipei in Dubai if they require help.
Due to ongoing conflict, commercial travel routes in and out of Iran may be disrupted. Although Iran’s airspace has partially reopened as of late June and early July 2025, travel remains uncertain and dangerous. Travelers are urged to have evacuation plans that do not rely on government assistance and to consider alternative departure options by road to neighboring countries if needed.
Ariel's escape from Iran took 104 hours, but she considers it one of her top five countries. She was intrigued by the beautiful domes and architecture of Isfahan, which was a major stop on the Silk Road. Despite the harrowing experience, Ariel's spirit of adventure remains unbroken, and she looks forward to her next journey.
Ariel's travels took an unexpected turn when she decided to explore Isfahan, a city in Iran rich in history and home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites, despite the travel advisories issued by the US State Department and Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, her lifestyle was dramatically altered on June 14, as she faced challenges while attempting to leave Iran due to the escalating tensions and conflict in the region.
