U.S. Foreign Policy and Security

The U.S. State Department has updated its global travel advisories and interactive risk map, moving Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain from Level 2 (exercise increased caution) to Level 3 (reconsider travel) as fallout from the Iran conflict raises threats to Americans abroad. Iran itself is listed as Level 4 “Do Not Travel,” with the department warning of wrongful detention, violence and kidnapping, while a recent worldwide security alert cautions that U.S. citizens could be targeted by Iran‑linked groups anywhere. A broader list of Level 4 countries now includes Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq, Libya, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen, many of which lack U.S. consular services, and Level 3 advisories also cover Bahrain, Colombia, Honduras, Israel, Nicaragua, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. On Iranian state television, Brig. Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi threatened that even parks and tourist sites worldwide “will no longer be safe” for Americans and Israelis, rhetoric U.S. officials are clearly taking seriously in their alerts. The department urges travelers to enroll in its Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so embassies and consulates can push security updates during what has become a far more volatile environment for U.S. citizens overseas.