This Friday, February 27, the State Department once again warned all American citizens to leave Iran and toughened the rhetoric against Tehran. However, Trump assured that he has not yet made a decision about attacking the Persian country. His words came shortly after his country's embassy authorized its "non-essential" staff and family members to leave Israel. The United Kingdom temporarily relocated its diplomatic employees to Israeli territory and France and China recommended their compatriots take extreme precautions.

First modification: 02/27/2026 - 19:25 Last modification: 02/28/2026 - 12:12

"Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. I am not satisfied with Iran's behavior, but there will be more talks (...) We have not made a final decision yet. We are not completely satisfied with the way they negotiated. I repeat: they cannot have nuclear weapons. We are not enthusiastic about the way they are negotiating. So we will see how everything works. We are negotiating," said Donald Trump.

At what appears to be a point of no return in tension between Washington and Tehran, the US State Department maintains its sternest warning to US citizens: no American should travel to Iran for any reason.

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This “Level 4: Do not travel” recommendation is based on the high risk of arbitrary detention, torture, kidnapping and other threats, a position that international agencies have consistently reported in the context of bilateral tensions.

This escalation in Washington's rhetoric and legal tools occurs against a backdrop of persistent tensions in the Middle East, where Iran remains a key player. Washington has also made clear that the release of all Americans unjustly detained remains a top priority and the most direct path to avoiding further consequences.

Likewise, the US Government has activated mechanisms to designate Iran as a state sponsor of arbitrary detentions.

This measure is part of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on September 5, 2025, which allows sanctions and other punitive actions against countries that unfairly hold US citizens or practice “hostage diplomacy.”

According to official estimates cited by Reuters, Iran is holding around eight Americans unjustly detained. This new category is added to the already existing designation of Iran as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, under which a regime of severe sanctions already weighs.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized Washington's firm stance: “Anyone who uses an American as a bargaining chip will pay the price.”

A senior Administration official added that “everything changes today regarding rogue regimes that believe Americans can be treated as pawns.” The executive order provides for notifying the country involved and giving it the opportunity to act before applying measures such as additional sanctions, export controls and entry bans into the US.

Is a US attack on Iran imminent?

This Friday, February 27, when asked about the friction with the Islamic Republic, the US president, Donald Trump, assured that he has not made a final decision against Iranian territory, but stressed that he is not satisfied with the development of the latest dialogues.

"Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. I am not satisfied with Iran's behavior, but there will be more talks (...) We have not yet made a final decision. We are not completely satisfied with the way they negotiated. I repeat: they cannot have nuclear weapons. We are not enthusiastic about the way they are negotiating. So we will see how everything works. We are negotiating," said the Republican leader.

His words came shortly after the US Embassy in Israel authorized the departure of "non-essential" employees who wish to leave, in a context of growing insecurity in the Middle East in the face of repeated threats from the White House leader about an assault against Iran.

"The United States may further restrict or prohibit travel by US Government employees and their families to certain areas of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the West Bank," notes the US Embassy's advisory, which recommends "departing Israel while commercial flights are available."

In case its citizens decide to visit Israel, the West Bank or Gaza, Washington urges them to be "on the lookout for suspicious activities, including abandoned objects (...) Find out about the location of the nearest bomb shelter or other reinforced shelter," he added.

Washington's ambassador to Israeli territory, Mike Huckabee, communicated the decision to his employees through an email in which he detailed that conversations with officials from his country had motivated the exit authorization.

The email, leaked by the American press, urges employees to arrange any flight out of Israel before heading to Washington. "Those who wish to take AD (authorized departure) must do so TODAY," the ambassador specified in writing, before detailing that, "although there may be departure flights in the coming days, there may not be any."

Airlines such as the Dutch KLM have already announced plans to suspend flights from Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport. Huckabee stressed in a later meeting with embassy staff that he was encouraging the airlines to continue operating.

Huckabee called on his employees not to panic; Even so, he added: "Those who wish to leave should make plans to do so as soon as possible."

The United States currently recommends its citizens not travel to areas of Israel that are four kilometers from the borders with Lebanon and Syria, "due to continued military presence and activity," as well as two kilometers from Egypt.

Although the nature of the measure taken this Friday by the United States Embassy is voluntary, less restrictive – for example, than the departure order imposed this week on some members of the staff of the US Embassy in Beirut (Lebanon) – Washington is not the only Government that is making decisions and providing recommendations to its citizens in Israel.

Read alsoWhat risks does the United States face if it attacks Iran?

UK relocates staff to Israel; China and France issue recommendations

While the next moves of the United States in the Middle East are not entirely clear, some countries are taking precautionary measures.

The British Government assured this Friday that its embassy in Tel Aviv continues to operate normally, but warned that the security situation "could worsen quickly" and that international borders, including air and land routes, could be closed without prior notice.

Against this background, the United Kingdom Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had temporarily relocated some of its diplomatic employees from Tel Aviv to another unspecified location within the country, as a precautionary measure due to increased tensions in the region.

Also this Friday, the Chinese Embassy in Israel asked its citizens to reinforce their security precautions and emergency plans.

Likewise, the French Foreign Ministry recommended its citizens not to travel to Israel and, to those who are there, to be vigilant, prudent and identify shelters.

Read alsoIran assures that it maintained one of the most serious dialogues with the US and on Monday technical discussions will begin in Vienna

Movements in Iran

In Tehran, the Iranian capital and the target of Trump's threats, some embassies are beginning to empty, including that of the United Kingdom, which withdrew its staff this Friday due to the insecurity situation in the region. The diplomatic headquarters detailed that it will continue to operate remotely.

"The UK Government's support in Iran is extremely limited. It will not be possible to provide face-to-face consular assistance in an emergency, and the UK Government will not be able to help you if you have difficulties in Iran," the diplomatic headquarters said in a statement.

The Keir Starmer Administration considers that having a passport from that nation or ties of any kind "may be sufficient reason for the Iranian authorities to detain them."

China also advised its citizens this Friday to avoid traveling to Iran and urged those in the country to evacuate as soon as possible, the state news agency 'Xinhua' reported.

Several European countries with missions in Iran, including Finland, Sweden and Poland, have also advised their citizens in recent weeks not to travel to the country or to leave it. Germany has toughened its warnings and suspended visa services in Tehran.

India, Singapore and Brazil have issued similar recommendations.

On Wednesday, Australia ordered the departure of all family members of Australian officials stationed in Israel "in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East."

In addition, it offered voluntary outings to relatives of diplomats in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar.

The successive withdrawals of diplomatic missions in the Middle East and the unfavorable travel recommendations show the concern of the international community about the hardening of Trump's rhetoric in relation to an imminent attack against Tehran.

Read alsoDoes the buildup of US warships and fighters prepare the ground for a possible war with Iran?

In context: dialogues vs. threats

The departure clearance from the U.S. Embassy comes a day after Iran and the United States will end a third round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, without reaching an agreement. Tehran indicated that the parties would have new talks next Monday, but there was no indication of a breakthrough that could prevent a possible US attack that Donald Trump has threatened on different occasions.

Tensions do not seem to deescalate, while Washington maintains its pressure with an increase in naval deployment in the Middle East. In fact, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the world, is already near Israel, after having been moved from the Caribbean to where Trump ordered its deployment months ago, before the attacks in Venezuela that ended with the capture of then-president Nicolás Maduro.

Iran has also previously threatened to launch attacks against US bases in the Middle East, in retaliation for a possible military offensive by Washington. Such an escalation could involve Israel, Trump's main ally in the region.

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Israel and the Islamic Republic already attacked each other with 12-day bombing raids in June 2025, joined by the US.

Donald Trump, who insists almost daily that time is running out for Iran, seeks to limit that nation's nuclear program, while the ayatollah regime claims its right to enrich uranium.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that Iran's refusal to negotiate on ballistic missiles is a major obstacle. In this request, Israel insists that today it is within the range of the Islamic Republic's ballistic missiles.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi did not offer details of the talks with Washington, but stated on Thursday, February 26, that "what must happen has been clearly laid out" by his delegation.

The leader of Iranian diplomacy expressed hope that the talks will enter "technical terrain" starting next Monday, March 2, when they are scheduled to meet in Vienna with Trump's envoys. The weekend could be long for Tehran.

Read alsoRhetoric of dialogue and war deployment: Trump's duality regarding Iran

With AP, Reuters and local media

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