Washington: The United States State Department has issued a stark warning to American citizens, advising them not to travel to Iran “for any reason” due to escalating security risks, wrongful detentions, terrorism threats, and misleading surrogacy practices.
The announcement, made by State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, marks a serious escalation in diplomatic tensions and public safety concerns involving US nationals, particularly those with Iranian heritage.
The updated Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory, the highest level of warning, was issued alongside the launch of a new government website designed to alert Americans to the risks of travel to Iran.
“US citizens in Iran face serious dangers,” the department stated.
“They have been kidnapped and wrongfully arrested. Some have been held for years on false charges, subjected to psychological torture, and even sentenced to death.”
The advisory specifically noted that American citizens, especially dual US-Iranian nationals, journalists, students, and business travellers, are being targeted without warning or evidence of any wrongdoing.
“Having a US passport or connections to the United States can be reason enough for Iranian authorities to detain someone,” the statement warned.
No direct US assistance in case of arrest
Currently, there are no formal diplomatic or consular relations between Washington and Tehran. In the event that a US citizen is arrested or detained in Iran, the United States cannot offer direct intervention.
Instead, the Swiss government serves as the “protecting power” for American interests. However, consular access is frequently denied, particularly to dual nationals.
Threats from extremist groups and aviation risks
The State Department also flagged the increasing threat posed by violent extremist groups.
“ISIS and related groups have taken responsibility for bombings and other attacks in the country. The risk of terrorism and deadly harm to bystanders continues,” the advisory noted.
Due to the growing threats in Iranian airspace, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned US airlines and aircraft from flying to, from, or through Iran. Travellers are urged to consult FAA’s NOTAM and SFAR alerts for the latest updates on civil aviation hazards.
Surrogacy warnings and citizenship concerns
The advisory also drew attention to Iran’s unregulated surrogacy industry. “Iranian surrogacy providers have also been known to misrepresent US citizenship law,” the State Department cautioned.
“If a child born overseas to a surrogate is not genetically or gestationally related to a US citizen parent or their spouse, the child will not automatically acquire US citizenship at birth and will not be able to obtain a US passport to leave Iran,” the advisory explained.
Precautionary measures for travellers
The tone of the advisory is particularly serious, urging would-be travellers to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Recommendations include:
- Drafting a will
- Leaving DNA samples with a medical provider
- Establishing a proof-of-life protocol
- Sharing sensitive login and personal documents with family members
Recent tensions and military operations
This travel warning follows a series of high-profile military actions and diplomatic strains involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
President Donald Trump, speaking at a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressed hope for avoiding further military conflict with Iran, suggesting that Tehran may be open to dialogue.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also indicated a willingness to engage in discussions with the US but acknowledged trust-building challenges stemming from previous actions by Washington and Tel Aviv.
Israel Iran conflict
Tensions escalated sharply in June when Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion”, targeting key Iranian nuclear and military sites, including Natanz and Fordow. The operation resulted in casualties among Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and nuclear scientists.
The United States followed up with “Operation Midnight Hammer” on 22 June, striking Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Israel and a US airbase in Qatar, condemning the strikes as violations of international law and the UN Charter.
(With agency inputs)
