ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States has issued a security advisory for citizens residing in or planning to travel to the Middle East, citing an unpredictable security environment fueled by ongoing regional tensions, with Iran, Iraq, and Syria among the countries subject to the highest-level travel advisories. The warnings come as a war end between Iran and the US stalls.
“Due to high tensions in the [Middle East] region, the security environment remains complex and can change quickly,” the US Department said in a statement, reminding “US citizens in the Middle East of the continued need for caution and encouraging them to monitor the news for breaking developments.”
The Department further noted that the travel advisories for Bahrain, Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates “remain at Level 3 – Reconsider Travel.”
As for Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and Yemen the advisories “remain at Level 4 – Do Not Travel.”
The reiteration comes as a comprehensive resolution to the conflict that has shaken the region in recent months remains elusive.
The US and Israel in late February launched a large-scale aerial campaign against Iran, striking thousands of targets across the country during six weeks of hostilities.
In response, Tehran carried out thousands of drone and missile strikes across the Middle East, targeting alleged US assets in the region - particularly in Gulf Arab states - as well as launching retaliatory attacks against Israel.
Iran and the US agreed to a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire on April 8, halting fighting to allow space for talks. While the first round of talks concluded without a final agreement on April 11, a second round has yet to take place.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday stated that negotiations with Iran are progressing positively and suggested that a deal could be reached within days.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said late Wednesday, “I hear the negotiation itself is going very well,” adding, “I think a deal is going to be made there. That’s going to happen pretty soon.”
Trump’s remarks came as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that “communication with the Americans has not been severed,” while noting that “no tangible progress” has been achieved in the negotiation process.
“We have explicitly declared to all concerned parties that an attack on Beirut is a blatant aggression, and we will not remain silent in the face of it,” Araghchi further told the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-affiliated Tasnim News Agency.
“In the event of continued Israeli aggression against Beirut, our armed forces are fully prepared to resume the war and strike targets inside Israel,” he warned.
The remarks by Trump and Araghchi followed Monday reports by IRGC-affiliated media that claimed Iran had suspended indirect talks with the US due to Israel’s continued military actions in Lebanon.
