As reported by the State Department, hundreds of US citizens have left Iran via its land borders after the country was attacked by Israel last week. In a cable intercepted by the Washington Post, the agency states that many Americans are in danger, while President Trump is considering joining the conflict alongside the Jewish state.
The cable emphasizes that several fleeing US citizens have encountered “delays and harassment” from Iranian authorities and that there are also reports of Americans being detained and imprisoned.
The document also reports that Turkmenistan, which shares a long border with Iran, has not approved more than 100 entry requests from US citizens from the embassy in Ashgabat. The State Department is now advising its compatriots in Iran to find other ways to leave the country.
At present, it is not known how many Americans are still in the country, but initial estimates suggest there are over a thousand. According to human rights advocacy groups, the Iranian government routinely targets foreign nationals and dual citizens, arresting them on flimsy pretexts to use them as bargaining chips in diplomatic negotiations.
“There’s a real danger that dual nationals could end up in the crosshairs of the conflict,” said Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. “There’s a real risk they might be stopped, questioned and then detained on bogus charges like espionage. American dual nationals are the most vulnerable, given the looming possibility of the U.S. entering the war.”
Meanwhile, in a public travel advisory updated on Friday, the State Department said US citizens should not “travel to Iran for any reason and should depart Iran immediately if they are there.” Those who cannot leave “should be prepared to shelter in place for extended periods.”
The safety of hundreds of thousands of Americans across the Middle East has been at risk since June 13, when the Israeli government launched a large-scale attack on Tehran. The US has said it is still seeking a diplomatic end to the conflict. However, Trump has given the talks a maximum time frame of two weeks.
In Israel, where about 700,000 Americans live, the local embassy has taken a leading role in helping Americans flee the country. “We’re working to get military, commercial, charter flights & cruise ships for evacuations”, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee wrote on social media Thursday. “If you’re offered a seat, take it.”
