The United States has urged its citizens to leave Iran immediately, warning of continued internet outages, security risks and limited US government assistance in the country.
In a notice issued on Thursday, Feb. 5, the US Virtual Embassy in Iran advised American citizens to plan alternative means of communication and, if it is safe to do so, consider departing Iran by land via Armenia or Turkey.
The embassy urged US citizens in Iran to have a departure plan that does not rely on US government assistance, avoid demonstrations, keep mobile phones charged and maintain contact with family and friends, and if unable to leave, remain in a secure location and ensure access to food, water, medications and other essential supplies.
The embassy also warned that US-Iranian dual nationals must exit Iran using Iranian passports, as Tehran does not recognize dual nationality and treats dual citizens solely as Iranian nationals.
Talks planned in Oman
The warning comes ahead of scheduled talks between the United States and Iran in Oman on Friday, amid little indication that the two sides have agreed on the agenda.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, were expected to take part in the meeting alongside a delegation led by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to US and Iranian officials.
The warning follows several similar security alerts issued by the US in recent weeks. The embassy last advised American citizens to leave Iran on Jan. 14, as the Trump administration considered a range of policy options toward Tehran, including potential military action.
Escalating US-Iran tensions
On Thursday President Trump said he does not rule out further US military strikes against Iran, warning that Tehran’s leadership should be “very worried” as negotiations over its nuclear program continue.
Trump suggested Iran may be seeking to revive its nuclear activities following US and Israeli airstrikes carried out last year.
The United States carried out airstrikes against Iranian nuclear-related facilities in June, targeting sites Washington said were linked to Tehran’s nuclear program. The strikes followed months of escalating tensions between Tehran and the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government, amid concerns that Iran was advancing uranium enrichment beyond civilian needs.
At the time, the Trump administration said the strikes were intended to deter Iran from further nuclear development and to signal that Washington would not tolerate moves toward a nuclear weapon. Iran denied that its nuclear program had military aims and condemned the attacks as a violation of international law.
Since then, Trump has repeatedly used confrontational rhetoric toward Iran’s leadership, warning that Tehran would face severe consequences if it resumed nuclear activities. He has framed US military pressure as a means of forcing Iran back into negotiations and preventing what he describes as a renewed push toward nuclear capability.
Iran has also faced sustained domestic unrest, with protests erupting in multiple cities over economic hardship, political repression, and restrictions on civil liberties. Demonstrations have periodically intensified following crackdowns by Iranian security forces, drawing international attention and criticism.
Trump has publicly expressed support for protesters in Iran, portraying the demonstrations as a sign of popular opposition to the country’s leadership. He has accused Iranian authorities of corruption and mismanagement and has said the US stands with Iranians “seeking freedom,” while Tehran has accused Washington of attempting to incite unrest and interfere in its internal affairs.
Tehran and Moscow have long been allies. Russian leader Vladimir Putin met with the head of Iran’s top security body in Moscow in January, as White House pressure on Iran continued to build.