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The United States government issued an urgent warning to its citizens in Iran, urging them to leave the country "immediately" amid a wave of protests that has spread across Iranian territory, resulting in hundreds of deaths, thousands of arrests, and a nation that is practically cut off from communication.
The alert was published on the page of the Virtual Embassy of the United States in Iran and comes as the regime has intensified its crackdown on protesters, stepped up security operations, and ordered near-total blackouts of internet and mobile phone services. Washington warns that the situation could become even more violent, with a high risk of arbitrary arrests and injuries.
The protests began in late December in Tehran due to the impact of inflation and the collapse of the national currency, but they quickly evolved into a national movement against the theocratic regime.
The discontent intensified following the abrupt rise in prices of essential goods such as oil and chicken, the disappearance of basic supplies, and the removal of a preferential exchange rate that had supported some importers.
Since then, the country has experienced almost daily protests in more than a hundred cities. Human rights organizations report deadly repression. The NGO Iran Human Rights claims to have verified at least 648 deaths since the onset of the demonstrations, including several minors, although they warn that the actual number could be much higher. Thousands of people are reported to have been injured, and more than 10,000 are believed to be detained.
In this context, Iranian authorities ordered a nationwide shutdown of internet and phone services during the most intense nights of protests, a measure that has left the population practically isolated from the world. Activists and NGOs agree that the digital blockade aims not only to prevent coordination among demonstrators but also to obscure the extent of the repression on the streets.
Given this situation, the United States has warned that its citizens face a "significant risk" of being questioned, arrested, or detained, and emphasized that showing a U.S. passport or any connection to that country may be sufficient reason for detention.
Washington also recalled that it does not maintain diplomatic or consular relations with the Islamic Republic and cannot guarantee direct assistance in case of an emergency.
The official recommendation is to exit Iran overland, as long as it is safe to do so, through Armenia or Turkey, whose borders remain open. Those who cannot leave the country have also been advised to seek a safe refuge, stock up on food, water, and medication, maintain a low profile, and avoid any demonstrations.
The warning from the U.S. comes as President Donald Trump has indicated that his administration may take action if the repression against the civilian population continues to escalate, a statement that adds tension to an internal conflict that is already spilling over Iran's borders and generating solidarity protests in cities across Europe and other regions of the world.
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