U.S. Warns Americans to Reconsider Middle East Travel as Iran War Escalates

According to CNBC, the U.S. State Department warned Americans to reconsider travel to the Middle East, saying the Iran war could worsen quickly and urging those outside the region to avoid travel to and through it. Americans already in the Middle East were told to exercise heightened vigilance and prepare for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures, and other travel disruptions. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said they attacked sensitive sites in Riyadh with missiles and drones on Saturday, while U.S. embassies in the region issued security alerts amid heightened tensions. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the Strait of Hormuz would not reopen until Iran’s conditions are met, and Mohsen Rezaei said consultations with Qatari and Pakistani mediators continue. Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, has risen 72% since the start of 2026 as the war disrupted energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.