The United States government issued an urgent security alert on January 12, 2026, instructing American citizens in Iran to leave the country immediately as anti-government protests entered their third week with escalating violence and a nationwide internet blackout. The Virtual Embassy Tehran, which serves as the U.S. diplomatic channel to Iran, warned that protests are intensifying across the country. The embassy cautioned that increased security measures, road closures, public transportation disruptions, and severe internet restrictions make safe departure increasingly difficult. According to the official State Department alert, airlines continue to limit or cancel flights to and from Iran, with several suspending service until Friday, January 16.
The advisory emphasised that Americans should not expect assistance from the U.S. government, as Washington maintains no diplomatic presence in Iran and the Swiss Embassy in Tehran provides only emergency services. With commercial aviation severely restricted, the State Department directed citizens to consider land border crossings into Armenia or Turkey as primary evacuation routes while warning that dual U.S.-Iranian nationals must exit using Iranian passports.
Why Americans Face Extraordinary Risk In Iran Right Now
The U.S. State Department maintains its highest travel advisory, Level 4: Do Not Travel, for Iran, explicitly warning that U.S. citizens risk arbitrary detention, torture, and denial of consular support as anti-government protests have spread nationwide. The situation has become particularly dangerous for dual U.S.-Iranian citizens, who Iranian authorities treat solely as Iranian nationals, excluding them from any foreign consular intervention.
Iranian law does not recognize dual citizenship, which means showing an American passport or demonstrating connections to the United States can be reason enough for Iranian authorities to detain someone. The State Department reported cases in which Americans, especially dual U.S.-Iranian citizens, faced lengthy imprisonment and were denied legal due process.
The Virtual Embassy Tehran stated that U.S. nationals are at risk of questioning, arrest, and detention in Iran. The current crackdown has intensified security measures across urban centers, with authorities closing roads, disrupting public transportation, and raiding homes suspected of illicit satellite communications.
Communications Blackout Complicates Exit Options
Iranian authorities have imposed a near-total blockade on mobile, landline, and internet services, with users losing connectivity for up to 4 days in a row. The government stated that the blackout would remain in place until they restored what they defined as national security, CNN reported. President Donald Trump announced Monday a 25 percent tariff on nations doing business with Iran, as his administration weighs possible military responses.
Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have blamed foreign interference for the unrest and threatened retribution against U.S. interests in the region. The White House stated that while public rhetoric from Iranian officials remains hostile, private messages suggest a willingness to negotiate, according to Newsweek.
