US urges citizens to have ‘heightened vigilance’ in Middle East as Iran ‘unpredictable’

A US Embassy has issued a warning to the all American citizens in the Middle East as they have been urged to “exercise caution and heightened vigilance” over “unpredictable” Iran

The US has issued a security warning to all American citizens currently in the Middle East as they admit Iran has now become “unpredictable” and may attack countries it has not targeted before.

As US President Donald Trump has threatened more strikes on Iran in order to reopen of the Strait of Hormuz, the US Embassy in Amman, Jordan, has warned all Americans in the region to “exercise caution” with fears Iran could “expand attacks to areas not previously targeted”. The US embassy named Egypt as a possibly place that could could be targeted.

They also told Americans to be aware of potential “flight cancellations” and “periodic airspace closures” due to fears of tensions in the region continuing to rise.

In a post on X, the US Embassy in Amman, Jordan said: “Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation.

“Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions. Some airlines in the region have postponed resumption of earlier flight schedules; others have cancelled some routes. Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation.”

They also urged Americans outside the Middle East to not consider travelling to the region. The post continued: “The situation in the Middle East remains fluid. The Iranian regime is unpredictable, as seen by its recent decisions to attack areas in the region without warning or provocations as well as to expand attacks to areas not previously targeted (such as Egypt). Americans should remain vigilant, as merely because U.S. interests or businesses have not been attacked in a country in the past does not ensure their safety.

“US Embassy Amman advises all Americans to avoid travel to military bases in Jordan. We remind U.S. citizens that Iran has also attacked civilian and critical infrastructure across the Middle East, including hotels, airports, and other civilian locations.”

The warning comes as Kuwait said it responded to a new round of drone attacks from Iran while a tanker was struck in the Strait of Hormuz.

Kuwait’s military said on Saturday that its forces were responding to drone attacks, which were part of Iran’s assaults on the country.

In a statement, Major General Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, spokesman for Kuwait’s Defence Ministry, said the drones hit “a number of vital facilities,” including a government structure in the country’s north. He said there were no casualties.

The British Navy said that a tanker was struck and a separate explosion hit close to a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman. No casualties were reported in either incident, it said.

Speaking to reporters on Friday (July 31), Trump said “we just want to win” in Iran and signalled that he expected US military action to continue for some time. He said the US will hit Iran “very hard” until they cannot take it anymore.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also expressed the US administration’s frustration with Tehran after they signed a memorandum of understanding on a truce but then quickly “broke it, shot at commercial ships, and killed American soldiers”.

“President Trump is not going to stand by and allow this terrorist behaviour to occur,” Ms Leavitt said in a statement on Friday evening.

“Iran will continue to pay until they come to the table in, what President Trump deems, a meaningful way.”

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