Iran Travel Advisory 2026

Current U.S. State Department advisory

Level 4: Do Not Travel

The highest advisory level: do not travel due to life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to help. Advisory as of December 4, 2025.

Official source: travel.state.gov

US vs UK: how the advice compares

🇺🇸 United States — travel.state.gov

Level 4· Do Not Travel

Level 4 of 4 · as of December 4, 2025

🇬🇧 United Kingdom — FCDO (GOV.UK)

Advises against all travel

Last updated June 18, 2026 · gov.uk advice

Latest UK update note: “Updated information about regional tensions and conflict affecting Iran (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).”

See all countries where the two governments disagree on the US vs UK comparison page.

Advisory level timeline

December 4, 2025 — current
Level 4: Do Not Travel
Latest official advisory as captured in our snapshot.
No advisory level changes recorded for Iran since we began tracking in July 2026. We log every future change here, with dates and official change notes.

Is Iran safe? What the official advisory says

to Iran due to the risk of terrorism , unrest , kidnapping , arbitrary arrest of U.S. citizens, and wrongful detention .

Do not travel to Iran for any reason. U.S. citizens in Iran should leave immediately. There is no U.S. Embassy in Iran. Review our information on Travel to High-Risk Areas .

U.S. citizens in Iran face serious dangers including terrorism , unrest , kidnapping , arbitrary arrest , and wrongful detention . Some U.S. nationals have been held for years on false charges, subjected to torture, and even sentenced to death.

No U.S. embassy in Iran The U.S. government does not have diplomatic or consular relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Swiss government, acting through its Embassy in Tehran, serves as the protecting power for United States interests in Iran.

The Embassy of Switzerland’s Foreign Interests Section in Tehran is temporarily closed due to the security situation in Iran until further notice. U.S. citizens in Iran in need of help should contact the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland by email at BernACS@state.gov or by phone at +41-31-357-7011 . This change reinforces the travel advice to U.S. citizens: Do Not Travel to Iran .

For routine consular services, U.S. citizens should visit the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate or return to the United States.

Detention, kidnapping, and hostage-taking The U.S. Department of State has determined that U.S. nationals are at serious risk of wrongful detention by the Government of Iran:

Iranian authorities continue to unjustly detain U.S. nationals without warning or any evidence they committed a crime. This includes dual U.S.-Iranian nationals, students, journalists, business travelers, academics, and people with U.S. military or government experience. Charges include espionage and posing a threat to national security.
U.S. nationals are at significant risk of questioning, arrest, and detention in Iran.
Having a U.S. passport or connections to the United States can be reason enough for Iranian authorities to detain someone.
Iranian law allows authorities to punish individuals for “collaboration with a hostile state.” This includes having any real or perceived connection with a government or organization that Iranian authorities consider as acting against Iranian interests.
Prior travel to Israel by an Iranian citizen can result in a prison sentence of two to five years.
Review our information on U.S. Citizens Missing Abroad and for Victims of Crime .

Arbitrary enforcement of local laws

Condensed from the official State Department advisory of December 4, 2025 — read the full advisory before you travel.

Iran travel advisory FAQ

What is the current travel advisory level for Iran?

As of December 4, 2025, the U.S. State Department rates Iran at Level 4: Do Not Travel. The highest advisory level: do not travel due to life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to help.

What does Level 4 mean?

Level 4 (Do Not Travel) — The highest advisory level: do not travel due to life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to help.

When did the Iran travel advisory last change?

The current advisory was published on December 4, 2025. No level changes have been recorded since we began tracking in July 2026 — this page will log every future change.

Does the UK government agree with the US advisory for Iran?

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) position: Advises against all travel (last updated June 18, 2026). The US and UK use different systems — the US assigns a 1–4 level, while the UK either advises against travel (entirely or in part) or issues no overall warning.