The State Department issued an urgent warning advising U.S. citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing heightened security risks as indirect negotiations get underway in Oman between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program.

In a notice released late Thursday, the virtual U.S. Embassy to Iran told Americans to arrange an exit strategy “that does not rely on US government help” and urged those unable to depart to “keep a low profile, and stay aware of your surroundings.”

The advisory follows weeks of unrest in Iran, after the Shiite regime violently suppressed mass protests early last month, killing thousands of demonstrators amid a rapidly deteriorating economy. The United States has repeatedly encouraged its citizens to leave the country since the crackdown.

At the same time, Oman confirmed that a first round of indirect discussions had already taken place. According to Omani officials, the talks involved Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, and first son-in-law Jared Kushner. Video later released by the state-run Oman News Agency also showed Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, attending the meeting alongside Oman’s foreign minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi — an unusual development compared with previous rounds of diplomacy.

In a statement, Oman’s Foreign Ministry said, “The consultations focused on preparing the appropriate circumstances for resuming the diplomatic and technical negotiations by ensuring the importance of these negotiations, in light of the parties’ determination to ensure their success in achieving sustainable security and stability.”

Regional tensions have continued to intensify since the protests were crushed, with President Trump deploying the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East and repeatedly warning Tehran that military force remains an option if it refuses to engage seriously.

Asked whether Iran’s supreme leader should fear further action, Trump offered a blunt assessment. “I would say he should be very worried,” he told NBC News in an interview Wednesday, referring to Ayatollah Ali Khameni, following U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025. “Yeah, he should be. As you know, they’re negotiating with us.”

Trump also said he had heard that Iran was attempting to revive its nuclear weapons program, adding that if confirmed, he would be prepared to direct U.S. bombers to “do their job again.”

{Matzav.com}