Washington DC: The United States has urged its citizens to leave Iran immediately and warned of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and changes to border procedures amid heightened tensions and the threat of further escalation in West Asia.

The US Virtual Embassy in Iran issued a fresh security alert advising American citizens not to travel to Iran “for any reason” and telling those already in the country to leave immediately. The advisory said the regional security situation remained complex and warned that travellers could face disruptions affecting flights, airports and border crossings.

The US Mission urged Americans in the region to remain highly vigilant and closely monitor developments involving airports, airlines and border crossings. It also warned that procedures at Iran’s land borders could change without notice and advised citizens to check the entry requirements of any country they may seek to enter if they leave Iran.

The latest alert also referred to the activities of Iranian-supported Houthi forces, which have carried out attacks in Saudi Arabia, including strikes targeting civilian airports. The United States warned that the military conflict could escalate rapidly.

Washington also cautioned that its diplomatic facilities, businesses and institutions could face security threats. The advisory noted that US diplomatic facilities, including locations outside the Middle East, have been targeted in the past and warned that Iran or groups supportive of Tehran could target US interests overseas.

American citizens were advised to enrol in the US Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, known as STEP, to receive security updates and facilitate communication with US diplomatic authorities during emergencies. The alert also urged Americans to avoid demonstrations, large gatherings and areas with a heavy police presence, while maintaining a low profile at locations publicly associated with the United States.

The US further provided guidance in the event of an aerial attack, telling Americans to stay away from windows and glass doors, avoid fallen debris and monitor official communications for further instructions.

The warning comes amid an escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran, with Washington maintaining military and maritime pressure on Tehran and Iranian officials warning of retaliation against US interests in the region.

The latest advisory follows a separate US security alert concerning Americans and US government personnel in Saudi Arabia. The US Mission in Saudi Arabia recently required government employees to obtain special authorisation for official and personal travel to Taif and Yanbu amid heightened security concerns following Houthi attacks.

Saudi authorities have also issued an emergency warning over what they described as a “hostile aerial threat” after a ballistic missile was launched towards Riyadh. Saudi-led coalition forces said the missile was intercepted and reported attempted attacks targeting civilians and infrastructure in Bish, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu.

The travel warning highlights the wider risks facing Americans in the region as tensions increase. The US advisory specifically points to the possibility of sudden changes to air travel, airspace access and land-border procedures, meaning that normal routes out of Iran could become difficult to use without notice.

The reference to Houthi attacks also reflects the broader regional dimension of the confrontation. While the immediate advisory concerns Americans in Iran, the US has warned that developments involving Iran and groups supported by Tehran could affect security and travel conditions elsewhere in West Asia.

For travellers, the immediate concerns identified by Washington include access to flights, possible airspace closures, changing border requirements and rapidly evolving security conditions. The US has therefore urged its citizens in Iran to leave now rather than wait for conditions to deteriorate further.