Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
This information is current as of today,
IRAN
July 01, 2009
The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to carefully consider the risks of travel to Iran. Dual national Iranian-American
citizens may encounter difficulty in departing Iran. American citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events
and carefully consider non-essential travel. This supersedes the Travel Warning for Iran issued September 15, 2008.
Some elements in Iran remain hostile to the United States. As a result, American citizens may be subject to harassment or
arrest while travelling or residing in Iran. In 2009, Iranian authorities prevented a number of Iranian-American citizens,
including journalists, who travelled to Iran for personal or professional reasons from leaving, in some cases for several
months. Iranian authorities also detained or imprisoned Iranian-American citizens on various charges, including espionage
and posing a threat to national security. Americans of Iranian origin should consider the risk of being targeted by authorities
before planning travel to Iran. Iranian authorities may deny dual nationals access to the United States Interests Section
in Tehran, because they are considered to be solely Iranian citizens.
The Iranian Government continues to repress some minority religious and ethnic groups, including Bahai, Arabs, Kurds, Azeris,
and others. Consequently, some areas within the country where these minorities reside, including the Baluchistan border area
near Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Kurdish northwest of the country, and areas near the Iraqi border, remain unsafe.
Large-scale demonstrations with sometimes violent outbreaks have taken place in various regions throughout Iran, in particular
over the past weeks as a result of a volatile political climate following the June 12, 2009 presidential elections. U.S.
citizens who travel to Iran should exercise caution.
The U.S. government does not have diplomatic or consular relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and therefore cannot
provide protection or routine consular services to American citizens in Iran. The Swiss government, acting through its Embassy
in Tehran, serves as protecting power for U.S. interests in Iran. Neither U.S. passports nor visas to the United States are
issued in Tehran. The Iranian Government does not recognize dual citizenship and will not allow the Swiss to provide protective
services for U.S. citizens who are also Iranian nationals. U.S. citizens of Iranian origin who are considered by Iran to
be Iranian citizens have been detained and harassed by Iranian authorities. Former Muslims who have converted to other religions,
as well as persons who encourage Muslims to convert, are subject to arrest and prosecution.
Americans who travel or reside in Iran are strongly encouraged to register through the State Department's travel registration
website, https://travelregistration.state.gov. If they are in Tehran, American citizens may also register in person at the Foreign Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy
currently located at No. 39, Shahid Mousavi (Golestan 5th), Pasdaran, Tehran. The telephone numbers for the Foreign Interests
Section are (+98)(21) 2254-2178 and (+98)(21) 2256-5273, fax (+98)(21) 225-2258-0432, email: tie.vertretung@eda.admin.ch, website: http://www.eda.admin.ch/tehran.
U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for Iran, and the current Worldwide Caution, which are located on the Department’s Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov. American citizens may also obtain updated information on travel and security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free
in the United States and Canada or, from outside the United States and Canada, +1-202-501-4444.