The U.S. government urged its citizens staying in Iran to "leave immediately if possible." As anti-government protests spread locally and could turn into violence, it even laid out specific options to move by land to a neighboring country if safety is secured.
The U.S. virtual embassy for Iran said on the 13th (local time) in a notice on its website that protests are intensifying across Iran, and advised that if it is determined that safety is assured, people should consider leaving Iran by land and moving to Armenia or Türkiye. It also advised that if immediate departure is difficult, they should secure a safe place and prepare sufficient essentials such as food, water, and medicine.
Earlier, the U.S. Department of State also emphasized through the Iran travel information center account that "Americans face a high risk of interrogation, arrest, and detention in Iran," noting the possibility of protest expansion and communication disruptions, and urged consideration of departure by land. Reports also said that in Iran, internet shutdowns have recently greatly limited the flow of information.
The evacuation advisory came as military tensions between the United States and Iran rose. Reuters reported that President Trump has been reviewing response measures to Iran's hard-line crackdown and has warned that the United States could launch strikes if live fire is used against protesters.