U.S. Warns Iranian Americans Against Travel to Iran Amid Ongoing Tensions

The U.S. State Department has launched a new public awareness campaign urging Americans — particularly Iranian Americans — to avoid travel to Iran, citing grave security risks and Tehran’s refusal to recognise dual citizenship.

At a press briefing on Thursday, July 10, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce highlighted the growing dangers for U.S. citizens in Iran. “The Iranian regime does not recognize dual nationality and routinely denies consular access to detained U.S. citizens,” she warned. “It is not safe for anyone to travel to Iran.”

Bruce also announced the launch of a new State Department website, accessible via state.gov, which centralises travel warnings and advisories regarding Iran. “This campaign supplements our existing travel advisories. It does not replace them. Our message is clear — do not travel to Iran, especially if you are a dual national or of Iranian heritage.”

The advisory follows weeks of heightened tensions in the Middle East. The recent military escalation began with Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion” on June 13, targeting Iran’s nuclear sites and military assets. The U.S. followed up with its own strikes on June 22 — “Operation Midnight Hammer” — hitting key Iranian nuclear and IRGC facilities.

In retaliation, Iran launched missile attacks on Israel and a U.S. airbase in Qatar. While active hostilities have since paused, Bruce stressed that the threat remains high: “Just because the bombing has stopped does not mean it is safe to go to Iran. It is not.”

President Donald Trump also addressed the situation earlier this week in a joint press appearance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump said Iran had reached out to discuss de-escalation. “They want to work something out,” he said. “They took a big drubbing… We’re going to have a meeting. We have scheduled Iran talks. They want to talk.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has similarly signaled a willingness to engage diplomatically, stating that while dialogue with the U.S. was possible, rebuilding trust would be difficult given recent attacks.

As regional tensions continue to simmer, the U.S. is urging all Americans to exercise extreme caution and avoid travel to Iran, warning that the risks — especially for dual nationals — remain severe.