US Warns Citizens: Leave Iran Immediately

On Monday, the U.S. State Department and the U.S. virtual embassy in Iran issued an urgent warning for American citizens to "leave Iran without delay." This warning comes amid escalating nationwide protests, increased violence, and ongoing widespread internet outages, coinciding with the anti-government uprising in Iran entering its third consecutive week. The State Department stated that due to unstable security conditions, the absence of U.S. diplomatic representation in Iran, and severe limitations on consular services, the presence of American citizens in the country poses serious risks. The U.S. has not had an active embassy or consulate in Iran for years, and emergency matters for American citizens are only handled in a limited capacity through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which does not include routine consular services. The U.S. State Department also reiterated that the travel warning for Iran remains at its highest level, "Level 4: Do Not Travel to Iran." The warning specified that American citizens in Iran are at risk of arbitrary detention, torture, denial of consular services, and unfair arrests; risks that have intensified with the spread of anti-government protests across the country. The "U.S. virtual embassy in Iran" also issued a separate security warning stating: "Protests are intensifying across Iran. Security measures have increased, roads are blocked, public transportation disruptions continue, and internet outages are being widely enforced." The warning further noted that many airlines have limited or canceled flights to and from Iran, and some companies have announced that they will not resume services at least until Friday, January 16. The agency urged American citizens to plan for alternative communications due to the ongoing internet outages and, if possible and with safety considerations, to consider land exits from Iran towards Armenia or Turkey. It was also emphasized that dual nationals of Iran and the U.S. must leave Iran using their Iranian passports. Additionally, the warning stated that American citizens in Iran face serious risks of summons, interrogation, detention, and imprisonment, and even showing an American passport or having connections to the U.S. could alone be grounds for arrest by Iranian authorities. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced on Monday via the social media platform "Truth Social": "From this moment on, any country that trades with the Islamic Republic of Iran will be subject to a 25% tariff on all trade with the United States. This order is final and enforceable." The U.S. President had previously reacted on Sunday to reports of protesters being killed in Iran, stating, "We are taking this matter very seriously; the military [of the U.S.] is also looking into it. We are considering some very strong options. We will make decisions." Mr. Trump, speaking to reporters on Air Force One, said: "It seems that a number of people have been killed who should not have been killed. These (Islamic Republic) are violent people; if you want to call them leaders, I don’t know if they are really leaders or just rule through violence." He added, "I receive reports every hour. And we are going to make decisions."