The US State Department on Sunday issued a worldwide alert for American citizens asking them to exercise caution. Warning of possible periodic airspace closures and travel disruptions, the alert asked Americans abroad to follow security alerts issued by the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The alert said, “The State Department advises Americans around the world and particularly in the Middle East to exercise increased caution. Americans abroad should follow the guidelines in security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Periodic airspace closures may lead to travel disruptions. U.S. diplomatic facilities, including those outside the Middle East, have been targeted. Pro-Iranian groups have been targeting other U.S. interests abroad or around the world against the United States and/or Can target places associated with Americans.”The travel warning came after Treasury Secretary Scott Besant indicated that the war would not end soon. Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press, Besant said that America had plenty of money to finance this war. Besant said, sometimes you have to move forward to reduce stress. Earlier in the day, Trump had given an ultimatum to the Iranian leadership that they have 48 hours to open the Strait of Hormuz, otherwise a US military strike will destroy all their power plants, starting with the largest power plant first.Besant defended Trump’s threat, saying it was “the only language Iranians understand.”Early Sunday, a spokesman for Iran’s military command headquarters warned that if the US attacks oil infrastructure, Iran will respond in kind. According to the IRNA Iranian state news agency, Colonel Ebrahim Zolfkari said, “If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked, the fuel, energy, information technology systems and desalination infrastructure used by the regime in the US and the region will be attacked.”This is not the first time that the State Department has issued a worldwide alert for American citizens since the war began. After the US and Israel attacked Iran the State Department announced on February 28, “Following the beginning of US combat operations in Iran, Americans around the world and particularly in the Middle East should follow the guidance in the latest security alerts issued by the nearest US Embassy or Consulate.” “The State Department advises Americans around the world to exercise increased caution.“
