German Foreign Ministry tells Citizens: "Leave Iran Now"
Germany's Foreign Ministry has issued its most severe travel warning for Iran, urging all German nationals to leave the country immediately. The advisory cites risks of retaliatory actions from Tehran in response to Germany's role in triggering the "snapback mechanism" to reinstate UN nuclear sanctions
Twitter
Germany's Foreign Ministry has renewed its strongest travel warning for Iran, urging all German nationals to leave the country immediately and advising against any non-essential travel, citing risks of retaliatory actions by Tehran over escalating nuclear sanctions.
The updated advisory, released Tuesday as part of the ministry's "Travel and Security Guidance for Iran," emphasizes the potential for flight cancellations and limited consular support from the German Embassy in Tehran. Officials urged citizens to organize their departure quickly, warning that "the possibility that German interests and citizens could be affected by retaliatory actions in Iran cannot be ruled out." This marks the most severe alert from the federal government and Foreign Ministry in recent years, building on an initial warning issued just over two weeks ago (August 29, 2025).
The escalation stems from Germany's role, alongside France and the United Kingdom (E3), in triggering the snapback mechanism under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 on August 28, 2025. This 30-day process, set to culminate at the end of September, aims to reinstate pre-2015 UN sanctions on Iran's nuclear and missile programs, including prohibitions on nuclear/missile-related exports and an arms embargo.
The E3 accused Iran of repeated violations of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) since 2019, following the U.S. withdrawal in 2018 under President Trump. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the move as "unjustified, illegal, and lacking any legal basis," promising "appropriate responses" while expressing openness to diplomacy if other parties demonstrate goodwill.
Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened countermeasures, heightening concerns for German nationals amid strained bilateral ties. Trade between Germany and Iran has plummeted from 3.4 billion euros in 2017 to about 1.5 billion euros in 2024, largely due to U.S. sanctions and Iran's nuclear advancements. Germany's broader foreign policy toward Iran has intensified in 2025, including Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul's criticism of Iranian retaliation strikes following Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear sites in June.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised Israel's actions in June as "doing the dirty work for us" in curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions, prompting Iran to summon the German ambassador. In October 2024, Germany closed all three Iranian consulates on its territory in response to the execution of German-Iranian national Jamshid Sharmahd.
The advisory highlights risks of arbitrary arrest, interrogation, and long prison terms for Germans, echoing past incidents like the 2022 detention of dual nationals amid protests. It also notes the embassy's limited capacity to assist, urging reliance on private travel insurance.
Iran's Foreign Ministry has not issued a direct response to the renewed advisory, but Tehran maintains it remains committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and is willing to resume "fair" talks. The German Foreign Office and Iranian embassy in Berlin did not immediately comment further.