The United States has issued an unusually stark warning to its citizens in Iran, urging them to leave the country immediately as unrest deepens and Washington weighs a range of punitive options, including potentia nol military and covert operations.

The alert came from the virtual US Embassy for Iran, an online platform operated by the US State Department in lieu of a physical diplomatic mission. In language rarely used outside of imminent-crisis situations, the embassy told Americans to depart “without delay” and to make plans that do not rely on any future US government assistance.

“Leave Iran now,” the security alert said, underscoring the seriousness with which Washington views the deteriorating situation. The advisory warned that the US government’s ability to assist citizens inside Iran is “extremely limited,” given the absence of formal diplomatic relations and the hostile state of US-Iran ties.

The message went beyond a routine travel warning. It urged Americans who cannot immediately exit the country to shelter in place and prepare for the possibility of extended isolation. “If you cannot leave, find a secure location within your residence or another safe building,” the alert advised, signaling concern that unrest could intensify or that foreign nationals might be targeted.

US officials cautioned that internet outages and communications disruptions are likely to continue as Iranian authorities attempt to contain the protests and restrict the flow of information. The advisory recommended that Americans in Iran plan for alternative means of communication, including offline contingency plans, and consider overland routes out of the country “if safe to do so.”

Specifically, the alert pointed to land borders with Armenia and Türkiye as potential exit corridors. Those routes have historically served as pressure valves during periods of heightened tension, allowing foreign nationals and some Iranians to leave when air travel becomes risky, restricted, or prohibitively expensive.

The advisory carried particular urgency for US-Iranian dual nationals, who occupy a uniquely vulnerable position under Iranian law. Tehran does not recognize dual citizenship and treats such individuals solely as Iranian, denying them consular access from the United States and often subjecting them to additional scrutiny.

“US-Iranian dual nationals must exit Iran on Iranian passports,” the alert said, reiterating that Iranian authorities can disregard any claim to US protection. It warned that simply revealing a US passport or any visible connection to the United States can draw the attention of security forces. “Showing a US passport or demonstrating connections to the United States can be reason enough for Iranian authorities to detain someone,” the embassy cautioned.

The warning comes against the backdrop of a sweeping crackdown on anti-government demonstrations that have spread across Iran. The protests, triggered by deep-seated grievances over political repression, economic hardship, and corruption, have evolved into one of the most serious challenges to the country’s leadership in years.

Human rights monitors outside Iran have struggled to verify events on the ground due to a near-total internet blackout imposed by authorities. Nonetheless, the US-based rights group HRANA reported that the death toll from the unrest has surpassed 500, with more than 10,000 people arrested. HRANA emphasized that these figures are likely conservative, given the difficulty of obtaining reliable information from inside the country.

As images and testimonies of alleged abuses filter out through encrypted channels and diaspora networks, pressure has mounted on Washington to respond. The US administration has already moved to tighten economic screws on Tehran. In a recent announcement, President Donald Trump declared a 25 percent tariff on “any and all” countries doing business with Iran, a move aimed at further isolating the Iranian economy and punishing states or companies that continue to engage with it.

The tariff decision adds a new layer to an already dense web of US sanctions that have targeted Iran’s banking, energy, shipping, and military sectors. Analysts say the measure is designed not only to constrain Iran’s revenue but also to deter third countries from providing Tehran with an economic lifeline.

At the same time, Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States could resort to force if Iran’s leadership continues to use lethal violence against protesters. He has publicly threatened to attack Iran in response to what Washington describes as systematic and deadly repression, even as he has occasionally signaled openness to renewed diplomacy under the right conditions.

Behind the scenes, according to multiple US media reports, the president has been briefed on a menu of options that go well beyond traditional air strikes. These options reportedly include cyber operations designed to disrupt Iranian command-and-control systems, as well as psychological campaigns aimed at undermining the cohesion of the security apparatus and the credibility of state-run media.