Travel warning for Iran: Germans should leave the country immediately!

Travel warning for Iran: Germans should leave the country immediately!

The Foreign Office has issued the highest travel warning for Iran with immediate effect. All German citizens who are in Iran are asked to leave the country immediately. This comes in the context of recent political tensions triggered by the activation of the so-called snapback mechanism. This mechanism, activated by Germany, France and the United Kingdom on August 28, 2025, reinstates previous UN sanctions against Iran. The country has committed several serious violations of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA).

This is the first time in ten years that the travel warning has been issued with such urgency. Many Germans, including tourists and business travelers, are currently in Iran and could be severely affected by the new developments. Flights in and out of Iran are already being canceled; In addition, German bank cards and payment systems only work to a limited extent. The Federal Foreign Office strongly advises travelers to carry enough cash with them for the return journey.

Increased risk for Germans in Iran

The situation for German citizens in Iran is increasingly dangerous. Authorities warn that the risk of arbitrary arrests is increasing, particularly for individual travelers and those who have made critical statements against the Iranian regime. Even harmless activities, such as taking photos of landmarks, could be viewed as subversive. In addition, the German embassy in Tehran has stopped its public traffic, which is severely restricting consular support.

The political situation remains tense. While the EU sees the activation of the snapback mechanism as a necessary step to comply with international agreements, Iran describes these measures as a hostile act and threatens decisive countermeasures. Official information was also passed on to the UN Security Council. The sanctions would come into effect after a 30-day period at the end of September 2025 if no agreement is reached.

Advice from the Foreign Office

• Deutsche im Iran sollten alle politischen Inhalte von ihren mobilen Geräten löschen.
• Es wird geraten, auf die Nutzung von GPS-Geräten zu verzichten.
• Die Einreise kann durch mögliche zukünftige Sanktionen, wie Einreiseverbote und wirtschaftliche Sanktionen, stark erschwert werden.
• Betroffene Reisende sollten sich in der Krisenvorsorgeliste eintragen.

The agreement between the European countries was observed internationally. While the US welcomes the move and emphasizes its readiness for direct talks with Iran, Russia and China have criticized the move as insufficient, but cannot prevent the sanctions from coming into force. According to estimates, several thousand Germans are currently in Iran, and their safety and ability to return home are top priorities.