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The U.S. State Department on Thursday issued a travel advisory urging American citizens across the Middle East and North Africa to remain vigilant amid rising regional tensions, citing the possibility of conflict involving Iran and Israel.
“Due to increased regional tensions, U.S. citizens should exercise increased caution,” the advisory stated. “Historically, similar tensions have resulted in travel disruptions and increased security concerns for U.S. citizens in the region.”
The alert comes as speculation mounts over a potential Israeli strike on Iran in the coming days. Channel 14 in Israel and other regional outlets have reported that Tel Aviv is preparing military options targeting Iranian nuclear facilities..
On Wednesday, the U.S. authorized the voluntary departure of nonessential diplomatic personnel and military families from several posts in the Middle East. President Donald Trump confirmed the decision, saying U.S. personnel were being relocated out of “an abundance of caution.”
“Some of those locations could be a dangerous place,” Trump said Thursday.
He added that the U.S. was trying to prevent a “massive conflict” and that Israel’s military move on Iran “may very well happen,” though he declined to call such a strike imminent.
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Iran’s Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh issued a stark warning, threatening to strike U.S. military bases across the region if a war breaks out over Tehran’s nuclear activities. “All American bases in the region are within reach of Iranian missiles,” he said. “We will target them in their host countries without hesitation.”
The warning comes just days before a new round of nuclear talks is scheduled in Muscat, the capital of Oman. U.S. President Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to meet Iranian officials for a sixth round of indirect negotiations.
The talks have been repeatedly stalled over Iran’s uranium enrichment program. While Washington demands a full halt, Tehran insists the program is peaceful and non-negotiable.
The U.S. and its allies have accused Iran of violating its obligations under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was abandoned by Trump during his first term. Iran has since escalated its enrichment activities, reaching levels far above those permitted by the deal.
On Wednesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a resolution condemning Iran for non-compliance. In response, Tehran announced plans to build a new enrichment facility and install sixth-generation centrifuges at its Fordo site.
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