Hundreds of US citizens evacuated Iran with 'numerous' issues ahead of strike on nuclear sites: report

Hundreds of U S citizens evacuated Iran over the past week ahead of America striking three of Iran s key nuclear sites on Saturday according to an internal State Department cable Reuters broadcasted While several Americans were able to leave without issues numerous citizens faced delays and harassment while trying to leave the outlet added citing the cable reportedly dated on Friday Two citizens attempting to leave Iran were reportedly detained The published evacuation difficulties faced by Americans underscore the broader challenges Washington has encountered in assisting its nationals inside Iran a country that has not had any diplomatic ties with the U S since the Iranian Revolution in The State Department informed Fox News Digital that U S citizens may face more difficulty exiting than those who hold U S -Iranian dual citizenship STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT HAS PROVIDED GUIDANCE TO MORE THAN PEOPLE IN ISRAEL WEST BANK AND IRAN We remind U S citizens not to advance to Iran for any reason due to the hazard of terrorism civil unrest kidnapping arbitrary arrest of U S citizens and wrongful detention a State Department spokeperson explained in a announcement to Fox News Digital on Sunday U S -Iranian dual nationals must exit Iran on Iranian passports and should be prepared to encounter checkpoints and questioning from Iranian functionaries before departing Iran The Iranian leadership does not recognize dual nationality and will treat U S -Iranian dual nationals solely as Iranian citizens If you plan to leave Iran the Department has opened a predicament intake form for U S citizens in Iran to pass information about consular assistance the department added Due to the limitations of U S consular advocacy in Iran U S citizens seeking departure should take advantage of existing means to leave Iran The situation intake form and the latest information for U S citizens seeking to depart Israel and Iran can be identified on our banner page on voyage state gov US AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL MIKE HUCKABEE INDICATES US IS WORKING TO OFFER EVACUATION OPTIONSState Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce reported during a press briefing on Friday that the U S has no higher priority than the safety and assurance of Americans adding that the administration has offered guidance to thousands of people on how to leave Iran and Israel amid rapidly escalating tensions between the two countries We do not anticipate offering direct U S government-assisted departure from Iran Bruce explained The Department of State has provided information and encouragement to over people seeking guidance regarding the situation in Israel the West Bank and Iran Americans seeking to depart Iran were advised to use land routes via Azerbaijan Armenia or Turkey while Iranian airspace remains closed according to a State Department journey alert The leadership may be able to assist American citizens once they exit the borders TUGBOATS CRUISE SHIPS AND FLIGHTS ISRAEL BEGINS EXIGENCY EVACUATION OF CITIZENS AMID IRAN WARThe State Department does not have official figures but thousands of U S citizens are thought to be residing in Iran Reuters stated Meanwhile U S Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee noted on Thursday that the administration was looking at different procedures to get U S citizens out of that country We're working to get military commercial charter flights and cruise ships for evac Huckabee revealed in an X post Fox News' Alec Schemmel contributed to this review