The State Department has issued a security alert urging American citizens to leave Iran immediately.
The alert, issued on Sunday, began by saying, “U.S. citizens should not travel to Iran for any reason and should depart Iran immediately if they are there.”
“U.S. citizens who are unable to depart Iran should be prepared to shelter in place for extended periods,” the alert continued. “U.S. citizens in Iran face serious, increasing dangers due to rising regional tensions. The U.S. government does not have diplomatic or consular relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Swiss government, acting through its Embassy in Tehran, serves as the protecting power for United States interests in Iran.”
The State Department added, “As of Saturday, June 14, Iran airspace remains closed. U.S. citizens seeking to depart Iran by air should confirm travel plans with their airlines.”
For those seeking to leave the country by land, the department noted that the border with Armenia is open. The border with Türkiye is also open, but the Iranian government may restrict non-Türkiye nationals from crossing. The alert states that flights from eastern Türkiye are reported to have limited availability.
Azerbaijan’s land borders are closed, but U.S. citizens may be able to enter through the Astara border crossing on Sunday if they obtain approval from the government of Azerbaijan. This process has to be handled through the U.S. Embassy in Baku.
The alert emphasized, “The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety if you choose to depart using these options. You should leave only if you believe it is safe to do so.”
“Leave Iran now. Have a plan for departing Iran that does not rely on U.S. government help,” the department warned.
The Trump administration had previously been scheduled to meet with Iranian leaders in Oman on Sunday for nuclear negotiations, but that has been cancelled in response to Israel’s strikes.
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