 "'Leave Iran now': US tells citizens as ties with Tehran worsen amid protests, 3rd alert in 5 days")
The United States has issued an advisory for American citizens to “Leave Iran now”, warning that protests across the country are “escalating” and could “turn violent”, leading to “arrests, injuries and severe disruptions” to daily life.
In its advisory, the virtual US embassy in Tehran said “Leave Iran now. Have a plan for departing Iran that does not rely on US government help,”.
“US citizens should leave Iran now. Consider departing Iran by land to Türkiye or Armenia, if safe to do so,” the embassy said in a statement Wednesday, the third alert in five days.
Iranian security forces have killed at least 3,428 protesters in a crackdown on demonstrations, the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO said on Wednesday, adding that more than 10,000 people had also been arrested.
IHR said the jump in its verified toll was due to new information it received from within the Iranian health and education ministries, with at least 3,379 of the killings coming during the height of the protest movement from January 8 to 12.
The group’s director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam condemned the “mass killing of protesters on the streets in recent days”, while IHR warned that even the new figure represented an “absolute minimum” for the actual toll.
Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday (local time) said that US President Donald Trump continues to keep “all options on the table” in dealing with Iran, including military action, while emphasising that diplomacy remains his preferred first step.
Quick Reads
View AllResponding to a question on Iran and whether ongoing protests could end without military intervention, Leavitt said, “I think one thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all of his options on the table, and airstrikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the Commander in Chief. Diplomacy is always the first option for the president.”
With inputs from agencies
 "US mobilising forces for Iran strike? Some military staff asked to leave Qatar airbase, Tehran on alert")
 "Denmark steps up Greenland defence as Trump urges Nato-backed US control")
 "US suspends visa processing for 75 countries from January 21")
 "How rescue of teen gang-raped in UK puts spotlight back on Pakistani grooming gangs")
 "US mobilising forces for Iran strike? Some military staff asked to leave Qatar airbase, Tehran on alert")
 "Denmark steps up Greenland defence as Trump urges Nato-backed US control")
 "US suspends visa processing for 75 countries from January 21")
 "How rescue of teen gang-raped in UK puts spotlight back on Pakistani grooming gangs")
