Dubai, United Arab Emirates – The U.S. Department of State has updated its travel warning for Iran.
It also announced that routine consular services previously provided through the US Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy in Tehran have been suspended.
The statement stressed that American citizens should have a plan in place to leave Iran.
“This change reinforces the previous warning to US citizens: Do not travel to Iran,” the US Virtual Embassy’s Persian-language statement, issued Wednesday, said.
However, the virtual embassy clarified that emergency consular services will continue through the Foreign Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy in Tehran.
Considering that it is the sponsor of American interests.
According to the statement, the emergency services that will remain available include:
Issuing temporary U.S. passports, reporting deaths abroad, emergency financial assistance, supporting detained U.S. citizens, verifying residence and welfare, distributing retirement and Social Security benefits, and providing free notary services.
Diplomatic moves before Israeli attacks
In the days leading up to June 13, with the start of the surprise Israeli attacks on Iran, there were movements from several countries.
Reuters quoted four American and two Iraqi sources, whose identities were not disclosed, as saying that part of the US embassy staff in Baghdad had been evacuated and left Iraq.
On June 12, the day before the attack, the British Foreign Office issued a strong warning to its citizens against travel to Iran.
She referred at the time to “the political situation in Iran.”
The warning was based on the serious risk of British or dual nationals being arrested, detained, or subjected to investigation.
Highest level warning
At the conclusion of the US Virtual Embassy statement, the following confirmation was made:
“US citizens should have a plan to depart Iran without relying on US government assistance.”
The Level 4 travel warning, which has now been renewed, is the highest level issued by the US State Department.
Officially it means: “Do not travel.”
This level is issued when the situation in a country is assessed as extremely dangerous and unstable, and represents a direct threat to the security of Americans.
