The State Department issued a Worldwide Caution on March 22 warning Americans that Iran-aligned groups may target U.S. interests globally, but the advisory came two days after Iran’s military explicitly threatened tourist sites and public recreational spaces, a category of target the standard country-level advisory map is not designed to track.
Worldwide Caution: The Department of State advises Americans worldwide, and especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution. Americans abroad should follow the guidance in security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Periodic airspace closures… pic.twitter.com/mX0ULIEzLv
— TravelGov (@TravelGov) March 22, 2026
Iranian military spokesman Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi issued the threat on March 20 via Iranian state television.
“From now on, based on the information we have about you, even parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations anywhere in the world will no longer be safe for you,” Shekarchi said, directing the warning at Americans and Israelis.
Iran’s top military spokesman warned Friday that “parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations” worldwide won’t be safe for the enemies. pic.twitter.com/dqWqnAvyj1
— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) March 20, 2026
The State Department’s advisory map, updated going into April 2026, places 20 countries under Level 4 “Do Not Travel” designations. Iran tops that list, with the department citing terrorism, unrest, kidnapping, arbitrary arrest, and wrongful detention.
Four Gulf states, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain, moved from Level 2 to Level 3 following the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian military sites on February 28.
Russia, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen carry Level 4 designations, with the U.S. warning it may lack a consular presence in some of those countries.
The Worldwide Caution states that “groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world.”
Iran-linked groups struck U.S. diplomatic facilities in Oslo, Toronto, and Karachi following the advisory. U.S. embassies also warned Americans to avoid places or areas where American citizens are known to congregate.
United Arab Emirates: Our current travel advisory for the UAE is at level 3: reconsider travel. It notes the ongoing risk of drone and missile attacks from Iran, and the Iranian regime’s threats to target locations, including organizations, businesses, and institutions, that are… pic.twitter.com/4fXZpuN5Td
— TravelGov (@TravelGov) March 31, 2026
Countries rated Level 1 or Level 2, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, carry no indication of the Iran-specific threat. Those designations reflect endemic, country-level risk assessments.
The State Department advises all Americans traveling abroad to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a free service that delivers real-time alerts from U.S. embassies and consulates.
U.S. officials have also warned that Iran may have activated sleeper cells worldwide following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28.
