On August 1, 2026, as military tensions between the United States and Iran reached a peak, U.S. embassies in the Middle East conveyed the severity of the tense situation in the region by recommending that their nationals prepare for immediate evacuation.
U.S. embassies in Jordan, Iraq, and Israel issued statements on that day (local time), strongly recommending to U.S. citizens in the Middle East that "they should prepare for evacuation in preparation for the possibility of escalating armed conflict between the United States and Iran, and should consider or prepare for departure if the situation worsens." In their advisories, the embassies emphasized preparedness for possible travel disruptions due to flight cancellations and periodic airspace closures.
This warning expanded beyond the Middle East region. U.S. diplomatic missions warned that "diplomatic missions outside the Middle East are also becoming targets of attack," urging the reconsideration of visits to or transits through the Middle East region. This has raised concerns that the conflict between the United States and Iran could spread globally.
This urgent advisory was followed by reports that the United States could "conduct intensive airstrikes targeting Iranian energy infrastructure this weekend (August 1-2)." CBS reported that the U.S. and Israel had established a plan for airstrikes, but a final decision had not been made. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that "an order from President Donald Trump has already been issued," adding shock by suggesting that U.S. attacks are expected to continue for several days.