Washington, D.C. — Emad Shargi, an American once wrongfully imprisoned in Iran, is urging fellow U.S. citizens—especially Iranian-Americans—not to travel to the country, warning that doing so could come at a devastating cost.
In a video released Thursday on the State Department’s official social media accounts, Shargi delivers a stark message:
“To anyone planning to travel to Iran, listen to me: cancel your trip.”
Shargi was among five Americans freed in a September 2023 prisoner swap between the U.S. and Iran. He had been detained for over five years on trumped-up espionage charges after visiting family in 2018.
“Now is a particularly bad time to travel there,” he said in the video. “I know you may want to visit family and loved ones, but there is a very high risk of arrest and imprisonment by the Iranian regime. Trust me—nothing is worth being tortured for and spending years of your life in a filthy, dark Iranian jail cell.”
Shargi admitted he once believed only those openly critical of the regime were at risk.
“I was wrong,” he said. “Don’t make my mistake. Your Iranian background does not protect you—it makes you a bigger target.”
His warning comes as part of a renewed State Department campaign cautioning Americans against travel to Iran, amid heightened tensions following Israeli-Iranian clashes and recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
A State Department spokesperson emphasized that Iran does not recognize dual nationality and has a history of detaining U.S.-Iranian dual nationals without cause.
“Iranian authorities routinely deny consular access to detained U.S. nationals,” the advisory states, adding that the U.S. government has no diplomatic presence in Iran and relies on Swiss intermediaries to check on detained Americans.
Special Envoy Adam Boehler said the Iranian regime has a well-documented pattern of detaining American citizens—particularly dual nationals—and using them as bargaining chips.
“They’ve been held on false charges, subjected to psychological abuse, and even sentenced to death,” Boehler said. “Iranian Americans are especially vulnerable.”
In a chilling note, the State Department now advises those who still insist on traveling to leave DNA samples and prepare a will—a grim reflection of the risks involved.
Shargi’s plea closes with a heartfelt warning:
“These things don’t just happen to others. I was an ordinary American visiting family. And it cost me five years of my life.”
