With the ongoing escalation of anti-government protests in Iran turning into violent clashes, the United States Department of State issued a security alert on Tuesday, January 13th, calling for American citizens in Iran to “depart immediately” from the country.
The U.S. Virtual Embassy in Iran emphasized in the alert that due to the absence of a physical U.S. embassy in Iran and limited emergency services provided by the Swiss embassy, American citizens in Iran are facing extremely high risks of arrest and security threats.
The official security warning clearly stated: “Make plans to depart Iran without relying on U.S. government assistance. Leave Iran immediately.”
“If unable to leave, seek shelter in your residence or other secure buildings. Stock up on food, water, medications, and other essential supplies,” the alert stated.
The embassy also mentioned that dual U.S.-Iranian citizens must depart Iran with an Iranian passport.
“The Iranian government does not recognize dual citizenship, treating dual U.S.-Iranian citizens solely as Iranian nationals. American citizens in Iran face significant risks of interrogation, arrest, and detention.”
“Simply presenting a U.S. passport or showing any connection to the U.S. can be enough for Iranian authorities to detain individuals,” the alert added.
The current protests have entered the third week. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the clashes have resulted in at least 646 fatalities, with a total of 10,721 individuals detained.
The Iranian government has nearly completely blocked communication, cutting off mobile phones and internet services, and reinforcing security measures in urban areas with roadblocks.
As several airlines have cancelled or restricted flights to and from Tehran, officials are advising citizens to consider evacuation by land routes. Currently, border crossings to Armenia and Turkey remain open.
The security alert specifies that U.S. citizens entering Armenia from Iran must hold a valid U.S. passport and can stay visa-free for up to 180 days. Dual U.S.-Iranian citizens entering Turkey with Iranian or Turkish passports do not require prior approval.
The Iranian government has stated that the communication block will continue until national security is restored.
The U.S. authorities have stated they will continue to monitor the situation and seek opportunities to assist citizens, but emphasize the extremely high level of danger, urging citizens to avoid protest areas and maintain a low profile.
President Trump’s administration is continuing to increase pressure, hoping to halt the repression of anti-government protesters in Iran.
President Trump issued a statement via the social media platform Truth Social, stating, “Effective immediately, any country trading with the Islamic Republic of Iran will be subject to 25% tariffs on all commercial dealings with the United States.”
“This order is final and binding. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump said.
Furthermore, the White House has confirmed that they are assessing multiple military options to protect protesters and U.S. interests in the region.
Despite Iran’s officials issuing strong rhetoric and even threatening to strike U.S. bases, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt revealed a different diplomatic message.
“The information you hear from official Iranian outlets is starkly different from the information this administration has received privately, and I believe the President is interested in understanding this information,” she told reporters at the White House.