March 3, 2026

We would like to alert you to the following changes to our travel guidance due to the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran:

The University’s contracted security provider, Crisis24 (who provides our emergency evacuation services), is no longer providing coverage for travel to the following countries: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Given this development, University-supported or sponsored travel to any of these locations will not be permitted, and petitions for exceptions to travel to these locations will not be approved through the International Travel Oversight Committee (ITOC) until this coverage resumes. This measure is based on an objective risk assessment, and the University’s inability to guarantee emergency assistance in these locations. If you have received an exception through the petition process but have yet to travel, please contact ITOC before you travel to see if your trip is still eligible for Crisis24 coverage. If you believe any upcoming trips to the locations noted above are essential for critical University-supported or sponsored purposes, please contact ITOC for more information.

The University recognizes that this is a dynamic and evolving situation, and ITOC will be reviewing the status of travel to this region with our security provider on a regular basis and will update you on any changes. The safety and security of our travelers remain our priority.

On Saturday, February 28, the U.S. Department of State issued a Worldwide Caution advisory for U.S. citizens traveling abroad. While this is not meant to deter you from traveling in regions outside of the Middle East, the University strongly recommends taking the following enhanced precautions:

  • Maintain a low profile and exercise heightened situational awareness at all times. As an additional cautionary measure, do not display any obvious signs of nationality.
  • Avoid areas where any protests or demonstrations are taking place. Be prepared to leave an area where crowds are anticipated or begin to gather. In some instances, local security forces may adopt robust tactics to disperse crowds or contain unrest.
  • Monitor local media, International SOS advisories, and information from the U.S. Department of State for the most up-to-date security analysis and guidance.
  • Always abide by the guidance and instructions given by local authorities including your program coordinators, host institution, embassies or consulates, and local law enforcement agencies.

It is also very strongly recommended that U.S. citizens and nationals traveling internationally enroll their trip(s) with the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This enrollment is in addition to the required registration of your itinerary with the university’s international travel registry, not in place of it. More information on the WashU International Travel Registry is available here.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely. Please contact itoc@wustl.edu with any additional questions.

International Travel Oversight Committee (ITOC)