US Renews Warning to Americans Worldwide of Iran-Related Threats

The U.S. State Department on Sept. 1 urged American citizens worldwide, and especially in the Middle East, to be aware of possible travel disruptions and attacks.

Issued on Tuesday, the alert comes in the wake of new U.S. military strikes against Iran and Tehran’s promise to retaliate.

Iran and Iran-supportive groups “may target U.S. interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world, including U.S. businesses and other institutions,” the Department of State said on its TravelGov X account.

“Due to tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” the agency said. “Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise heightened vigilance and be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions.”

The U.S. military said on Tuesday afternoon that it is striking new targets in Iran for the second time this week, more than a month after the end of the previous military operation against Iran.

An updated map released by the State Department shows that Level 3, or “reconsider travel,” and Level 4, or “do not travel,” alerts have been issued for all of the Gulf countries.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a Sept. 1 statement that the strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the Iranian regime against commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz and American military personnel in the Middle East.

President Donald Trump wrote that Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway through which large portions of crude oil pass, are being struck by the United States “as we speak,” according to a Sept. 1 post on Truth Social.

The strikes were launched “in retaliation for the Iranians’ failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait, which currently has no mines (They have been completely removed or detonated!), and the Iranians shooting eight missiles, all successfully knocked down, at our Military Base in Jordan,” he said.

Speaking to Fox News, the president said the latest strikes are focused heavily on Iran’s efforts to reconstruct radar decimated by earlier U.S.-Israel strikes in the six-month-old conflict.

In a phone call with the network, Trump said the U.S. military had been waiting until the work was almost finished before carrying out the strikes, according to correspondent Trey Yingst.

“If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left,” Trump wrote.

Iranian semi-official news outlets Mehr and Tasnim News said on Sept. 1 that Iran has begun firing missiles and drones at U.S. bases in response.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.