West Asia War: US tells citizens to leave Iran immediately as airspace partially reopens, flags exit risks
In a post published at the official consular unit in X, the ministry said the situation remained unclear and urged US citizens to act quickly.
“As of April 21, Iran’s airspace has partially reopened. U.S. citizens should leave Iran immediately, monitor local media for updates, and check with commercial carriers for additional information regarding flights from Iran,” the statement said.
Also Read | Iran to reopen airspace with phased “four-stage” plan after regional conflict
As flights resume in phases, officials have warned that air travel may not be the only option.
US citizens have been informed that, depending on the conditions at border crossings, they may also consider reaching neighboring countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Turkmenistan, by road.
The warning text also states, “Americans who want to leave Iran can also go to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Turkmenistan by land. US citizens should not travel to Afghanistan, Iraq or the Pakistan-Iran border region.” The statement is included.Also Read | Iran will resume international flights from Mashhad Airport on Monday
At the same time, the recommendation also points out possible difficulties for those trying to leave. It warns that Iranian authorities may delay departures or impose “exit fees” on passengers. Another major concern noted is for dual citizens; US-Iranian citizens are required to exit the country using Iranian passports, which can make consular assistance difficult.
The statement said, “Note that the Iranian government may prevent US citizens from leaving Iran or charge an “exit fee” for leaving Iran. US-Iran dual citizens must leave Iran with an Iranian passport.” expressions were used.
Iran plans to reopen airspace
While the advisory urges Americans to leave, Iranian officials are working on a structured plan to return air traffic to normal after months of disruption.
The country is preparing to reopen its airspace in four phases, starting with limited transit access and gradually expanding to full operations.
Iranian Civil Aviation Organization officials stated that the application will spread geographically from the eastern regions to the west.
In the first phase, transit flights will be allowed to pass through Iranian airspace. In the next phase, airports in the eastern part of the country will become operational again. In the third phase, major hubs such as Mehrabad International Airport and Imam Khomeini International Airport will be reopened and both domestic and international flights will be reopened.
In the final phase, western aviation hubs will be brought back online and the nationwide reopening will be completed.
