American citizens are being detained and imprisoned in Iran, the Washington Post reported Friday citing a State Department cable, as hundreds of other US nationals left the country through land borders amid Israeli airstrikes.
"There are a small number of unconfirmed reports of Americans being detained and imprisoned," the report said, citing the cable.
US diplomats are following up on these reports, the cable said, acknowledging that many Americans are in harm's way as Donald Trump considers military action against Iran.
Many of the US citizens who were leaving Iran faced delays and harassment, the Washington Post reported, citing the cable.
There is no definitive count of how many US citizens remain in Iran. The State Department has said it is not offering US government-assisted departures from Iran. Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said on Friday, “Americans seeking to depart should take advantage of existing means to leave.”
Detentions and diplomatic strain persist
Since the beginning of the Iran-Israel conflict on June 13, foreign nationals have been advised to leave Iran and avoid travelling to the country.
The Islamic Republic has a long history of detaining and convicting foreign nationals, using them as leverage in negotiations with world powers.
US permanent resident Shahab Dalili is among those known to be imprisoned in Iran.
Iran and the US broke diplomatic ties following the 1979 hostage crisis involving US diplomats in Tehran, which lasted 444 days.
US warns citizens to leave Iran as land borders remain limited
The US Virtual Embassy in Tehran urged American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing continued airspace closures and security risks amid hostilities with Israel, according to a security alert issued on their website.
The alert said land borders with Armenia and Turkey are open, while crossings into Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan require prior government approval. The embassy warned it cannot guarantee the safety of those attempting to exit by land and noted internet disruptions and limited consular support.
US citizens were advised to prepare for emergencies and avoid relying on the US government for evacuation assistance.
