Tuesday, January 13, 2026 -The virtual US Embassy for Iran has warned American citizens to leave the country without delay as nationwide unrest continues to escalate.
"Leave Iran now," the embassy said in a security
alert, urging its nationals to plan for departing Iran without assistance from
the US government.
"If you cannot leave, find a secure location within
your residence or another safe building," it added.
The advisory urged US citizens in Iran to expect continued
internet outages, plan alternative means of communication, and, "if safe
to do so, consider departing Iran by land to Armenia or Türkiye."
US-Iranian dual nationals must exit Iran on Iranian
passports, it said, adding that the Iranian government does not recognise dual
nationality and would treat dual citizens solely as Iranian citizens.
"Showing a US passport or demonstrating connections to
the United States can be reason enough for Iranian authorities to detain
someone," it said.
On Monday, President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent
tariff on "any and all" countries doing business with Iran amid a
government crackdown on growing anti-government demonstrations.
While Trump has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran if
authorities there use lethal force to suppress the protests, he has also
expressed willingness to explore the possibility of diplomacy with Tehran.
Reports indicated that Trump was briefed on several options
to move against Iran besides conventional military air strikes.
CBS News reported that the wide array of
military and covert tools could include cyber operation options and
psychological campaigns to disrupt Iranian command structures, communications,
and its state-run media.
Citing two Pentagon officials, the broadcaster said cyber
and psychological operations could be deployed separately or at the same time,
though a final decision has yet to be made.
It also reported that Trump's national security team was
expected to discuss updated Iran options at the White House on Tuesday.
Trump said on Sunday that his administration is closely
monitoring the situation in Iran and is considering "very strong
options" as the reported death toll in ongoing protests continues to rise.
"We'll make a determination," Trump said, adding
he had been receiving hourly reports on Iran, without providing information
about when, where or how the US would act.
The US-based rights
group HRANA reported on Sunday evening that the de@th toll has surpassed 500,
and that more than 10,000 people had been arrested. They noted difficulty
sourcing reliable information, with Iran maintaining its internet blackout
nationwide.
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