The U.S. Department State has issued an updated travel warning, urging American citizens to “carefully consider the risks of traveling to Iran” and avoid non-essential travel there.

The warning issued on October 8 supersedes one issued in March. It notes that certain elements in Iran remain hostile to the United States.

Since 2009, Iranian authorities have prevented the departure of a number of Iranian-American citizens, including journalists and academics, in some cases for several months. The warning highlighted the fact that there are no diplomatic or consular relations between the United States and Iran, preventing protection or routine consular services to U.S. citizens in Iran, VOA News reported.