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Urgent Travel Warning: US State Department Urges Americans to Avoid Iran Amid Heightened Tensions
The US State Department has issued a strong warning, especially to Iranian Americans, advising against all travel to Iran. This comes as recent conflicts between Israel and Iran, coupled with US strikes on Iranian sites, have significantly escalated risks for dual nationals and all American citizens.
US State Department Issues Notice: 'Do Not Travel' Warning for Iran
Washington D.C. – The United States State Department has launched a critical new awareness campaign, strongly advising Americans – and particularly those with Iranian heritage – to avoid all travel to Iran. The urgent warning, issued by State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce during a press briefing on Thursday, July 10, 2025, underscores the severe and ongoing risks faced by U.S. citizens in the country.
Why the Urgent Warning?
Ms. Bruce emphasised that the Iranian regime does not acknowledge dual nationality, which leaves detained U.S. citizens vulnerable and often without consular access. "While the bombing has stopped, that does not mean that it is safe to travel to Iran, it is not," she stressed. To reinforce this message, the State Department has unveiled a new dedicated website, accessible via state.gov, providing detailed information on these dangers.
The spokesperson reiterated that existing travel advisories remain firmly in place at travel.state.gov, and this new campaign serves to supplement them. "Do not travel to Iran, especially those of you who are dual citizens who have Iranian heritage. It is not safe for anyone to travel to Iran," Ms. Bruce urged, making the message unequivocally clear in multiple languages.
A Volatile Backdrop: Recent Conflicts and Diplomatic Efforts
This intensified warning comes against a backdrop of significant regional instability. The past month has seen heightened tensions following a conflict between Israel and Iran, which commenced on June 13 with "Operation Rising Lion." This Israeli operation involved widespread airstrikes on Iranian soil, targeting critical nuclear sites at Natanz and Fordow, as well as missile production centres and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command bases. Reports indicate that several top IRGC commanders and nuclear scientists were assassinated during these strikes.
The situation further escalated with "Operation Midnight Hammer" on June 22, seeing U.S. strikes that also targeted Iranian nuclear infrastructure. Iran retaliated with missile attacks against Israel and an assault on a U.S. military airbase in Qatar, condemning both operations as blatant violations of international law.
Despite the recent hostilities, there appears to be a glimmer of hope for de-escalation. U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking earlier this week after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressed cautious optimism about avoiding further military action. He indicated that Tehran also wishes to avert more conflict and is keen to "work something out" with the U.S. President Trump even nodded when asked about scheduled talks with Iran, stating, "We're going to have a meeting... We have scheduled Iran talks. They want to talk. They took a big drubbing, I think, when we hit the three sites."
However, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that while dialogue with the U.S. is possible, building trust remains a significant hurdle given the recent U.S. and Israeli attacks. Iran has also reportedly denied requesting U.S. talks since the recent conflict.
The message for American citizens remains unambiguous: the risks associated with travel to Iran are severe, and the U.S. government urges its citizens to follow this warning.(source-The Hindu)
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