US tells Iranians to stay home if Iran-US tensions rise

If you live in Kuwait and have been following the back-and-forth between Washington and Tehran these past few weeks, this latest warning is worth your attention. It’s not a Kuwait rule or deadline, but it’s another sign that the region could be heading towards something serious.

A US military official has told Iranian civilians to stay indoors and avoid areas near Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC, Iran’s elite military force) positions if tensions between the two countries escalate further. The warning was given to the outlet Iran International and comes as part of a wider pattern of US statements we’ve been covering, including Trump officials pushing for new Iran strikes before any peace deal is reached.

What did the US official actually say?

Speaking to Iran International, the unnamed US official said Washington was worried about the safety of ordinary Iranians. The official claimed the IRGC has been placing military equipment, including weapons and command centres, inside civilian neighbourhoods and close to people’s homes.

The official went further, accusing Iran’s leadership of using civilians as a form of protection. \”The Islamic Regime does not care about the people of Iran, as evidenced by Regime leaders and the IRGC using innocent civilians as human shields while they hide. They are hiding in fortified facilities and underground bunkers,\” the official said.

The advice given to Iranian civilians was direct. \”If military tensions escalate, Iranian civilians should take appropriate precautions by remaining indoors and staying far away from the IRGC,\” the official said, adding that \”the safest place for Iranian civilians during heightened tensions is inside their home.\”

Why is this coming out now?

This warning doesn’t stand alone. It follows weeks of rising pressure between Washington and Tehran, something we’ve tracked closely in our international news coverage. Earlier this month, we reported on US strikes on Iranian targets near the Hormuz Strait even as talks between the two sides continued. Around the same time, Iran said Washington holds the key to avoiding a new war, while also warning that any next war could last even longer than before.

Just days before this latest warning, we reported that Trump claimed Iran has no air defences left after a recent strike, and that tension had already risen sharply after the missile strike on Qeshm Island. Taken together, this warning to Iranian civilians reads like Washington preparing the ground, in public messaging at least, for the possibility of more military action.

It’s important to say clearly: the claims about the IRGC placing weapons in residential areas, and about leaders hiding in bunkers, were not independently confirmed in the report. These are allegations from a US official, not established facts.

What does this mean for people in Kuwait?

Kuwait sits close to this situation geographically, and many residents here, both citizens and expats, have family, business ties, or simply concern about what happens in Iran and the wider Gulf. A direct US-Iran military escalation would likely affect shipping through the Gulf, oil markets, and regional security, all things that touch daily life in Kuwait even if no fighting happens here.

Expats working in sectors tied to shipping, logistics or energy should keep an eye on how this develops, since disruptions in the Gulf often ripple into Kuwait’s economy. Citizens and residents generally don’t need to take any action right now, but it’s worth staying informed, especially as Kuwait has previously featured in regional security discussions, including when the US issued a security alert covering Kuwait and 11 other countries.

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