Breaking: Visa interviews at U.S. Embassy in Abuja canceled amid rising tensions, demonstration alerts

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has canceled all visa appointments scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2026, citing a “high potential for protests” in Abuja as tensions escalate between the United States and Iran. The embassy issued the warning via its official website on Wednesday, urging American citizens in the Federal Capital Territory to remain indoors.

“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja informs U.S. citizens that there is a high potential for protests in Abuja tomorrow, March 4, 2026, due to the current conflict with Iran,” the statement read. “Previous protests by some groups have resulted in violent clashes with Nigerian security forces. The Embassy strongly recommends that all U.S. citizens in Abuja remain in their residences on Wednesday.”

The advisory comes four days after U.S.-Israel airstrikes targeted and killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several high-ranking Iranian officials, triggering swift retaliatory missile attacks by Tehran on U.S. bases in Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia.

The conflict, which began over the weekend with coordinated U.S. and Israeli operations, entered its fifth day on Wednesday with no signs of de-escalation.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the possibility of negotiations with Iran despite indications from Tehran suggesting interest in talks. Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said ‘Too Late!’”

Speaking at the White House during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump claimed the airstrikes had caused extensive damage. “Just about everything’s been knocked out,” he said, adding that Iran had allegedly been preparing attacks before the U.S. and Israeli strikes.

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Addressing potential fallout, Trump cautioned that the worst-case scenario could be the rise of a new leader similar to Khamenei. He claimed that two waves of strikes had targeted individuals considered possible successors.

Iranian officials have ruled out any talks with the United States. Mohammad Mokhber, a senior aide to the late Supreme Leader, said: “We have no basis for any negotiations with them. We can continue the war as long as we want.”

The Iranian government announced a three-day state funeral for Khamenei. According to the official Irna news agency, mourners could pay their final respects at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in Tehran, with burial scheduled in his hometown of Mashhad. Khamenei, 86, was killed in the airstrikes, sparking national mourning.

The U.S. Embassy’s warning underscores rising security concerns for American citizens in Nigeria, as demonstrations in support of Iran could escalate into violent clashes with local authorities.