'Leave Iran now': US Embassy posts warning to Americans still in the country

The U.S. Virtual Embassy Iran is telling American citizens who are inactive successful the state to permission immediately. 

The informing Tuesday comes arsenic much than 600 radical person been killed successful the ongoing anti-government demonstrations, according to an activistic group. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said 512 of the dormant were protesters and 134 were members of Iran’s information forces, The Associated Press reported. 

"Leave Iran now. Have a program for departing Iran that does not trust connected U.S. authorities help," the U.S. Virtual Embassy Iran said connected its website, suggesting onshore crossings into Armenia oregon Turkey if it is "safe to bash so." 

"If you cannot leave, find a unafraid determination wrong your residence oregon different harmless building. Have a proviso of food, water, medications, and different indispensable items," it added.

IRAN SET TO HANG PROTESTER IN WHAT WOULD MARK FIRST EXECUTION TIED TO ANTI-REGIME DEMONSTRATIONS

Iranian demonstrators stitchery successful a thoroughfare during a protestation implicit the illness of the currency's value, successful Tehran, Iran, connected Jan. 8, 2026. (Stringer/WANA/Reuters)

"Protests crossed Iran are escalating and whitethorn crook violent, resulting successful arrests and injuries. Increased information measures, roadworthy closures, nationalist proscription disruptions, and net blockages are ongoing," the embassy besides said. "The Government of Iran has restricted entree to mobile, landline, and nationalist net networks. Airlines proceed to bounds oregon cancel flights to and from Iran, with respective suspending work until Friday, January 16." 

The protests began precocious past period with shopkeepers and bazaar merchants demonstrating against accelerating ostentation and the illness of the rial, which mislaid astir fractional its worth against the dollar past year. Inflation topped 40% successful December.  

IRAN PROTESTS SPARK REGIME SURVIVAL QUESTION AS EXILED DISSIDENT SAYS IT FEELS LIKE A ‘REVOLUTION’

Iranians stitchery portion blocking a thoroughfare during a protestation successful Kermanshah, Iran, connected Jan. 8, 2026.  (Kamran/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

The unrest soon dispersed to universities and provincial cities, with young men clashing with information forces.   

"U.S.-Iranian dual nationals indispensable exit Iran connected Iranian passports. The Iranian authorities does not admit dual nationality and will dainty U.S.-Iranian dual nationals solely arsenic Iranian citizens," according to the embassy. "U.S. nationals are astatine important hazard of questioning, arrest, and detention successful Iran. Showing a U.S. passport or demonstrating connections to the United States tin beryllium crushed capable for Iranian authorities to detain someone."

The embassy besides said, "Turkmenistan’s onshore borders are open, but U.S. citizens request peculiar authorization from the Government of Turkmenistan earlier approaching the border," and that, "U.S. citizens with an urgent request to depart Iran via Azerbaijan should beryllium alert that introduction into Azerbaijan from Iran has been restricted for U.S. citizens during periods of heightened tension, specified arsenic the June 2025 struggle betwixt Iran and Israel." 

Iranians stitchery portion blocking a thoroughfare during a protestation successful Tehran, Iran connected Jan. 9, 2026. (MAHSA / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)

"The U.S. authorities does not person diplomatic oregon consular relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran," the U.S. Virtual Embassy Iran continued. "The Swiss government, acting done its embassy successful Tehran, serves arsenic the protecting powerfulness for U.S. interests successful Iran."

Prior to the ongoing protests, the State Department issued a "Level 4 – Do not travel" advisory for the Islamic Republic of Iran successful December. 

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At the time, it urged Americans not to sojourn the country, "due to the hazard of terrorism, unrest, kidnapping, arbitrary apprehension of U.S. citizens, and wrongful detention. "

Fox News’ Efrat Lachter contributed to this report.