The State Department on Friday warned U.S. citizens against traveling to Iran, instructing them "to carefully consider the risks of travel to" the Islamic Republic.
The State Department is concerned that U.S. citizens are at risk of facing "hostile" actions, "harassment," and "arrest" in Iran, which has long employed anti-American rhetoric and has been known to detain Americans without reason.
"Some elements in Iran remain hostile to the United States," the warning reads. "As a result, U.S. citizens may be subject to harassment or arrest while traveling or residing in Iran."
"U.S. citizens in Iran should ensure that they have updated documentation at all times and make their own plans in the event of an emergency," the warning instructs.
U.S. citizens also are reminded that the United States has no diplomatic relations with Iran and has little power to rescue those who may be detained in the country.
"The U.S. government does not have diplomatic or consular relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and therefore cannot provide protection or routine consular services to U.S. citizens in Iran," the warning reads. "The Swiss government, acting through its Embassy in Tehran, serves as protecting power for U.S. interests in Iran. The range of consular services provided by the U.S. Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy is limited and may require significantly more processing time than at U.S. embassies or consulates."
Iran has not hesitated to imprison Americans without charge.
"Since 2009, Iranian authorities have prevented the departure, in some cases for several months, of a number of Iranian-American citizens, including journalists and academics, who traveled to Iran for personal or professional reasons," it continues. "Iranian authorities also have unjustly detained or imprisoned U.S. citizens on various charges, including espionage and posing a threat to national security."
Iran has imprisoned, among others, an American pastor and a Washington Post reporter, both of whom have been held without the charges against them being publicly revealed.
Dual U.S.-Iranian citizens also face a threat and "may encounter difficulty in departing Iran," the warning states.
It adds: "U.S. citizens of Iranian origin should consider the risk of being targeted by authorities before planning travel to Iran. Iranian authorities deny the U.S. Interests Section in Tehran access to imprisoned dual national Iranian-American citizens because Iranian authorities consider them to be solely Iranian citizens; access to U.S. citizens without dual nationality is often denied as well."
The warning was issued on the same day that President Barack Obama touted the effectiveness of his administration's efforts to strike a deal with Iran over its contested nuclear program.
Obama vowed to veto any new sanctions that Congress may pass to tighten the economic noose on Tehran and appeared to walk back the promise of potential U.S. military action against Iran should negotiations fail.
"I am not, repeat not, suggesting that we are on immediate war footing should negotiations with Iran fail," Obama said at a press conference on Friday.