The United States has officially designated Iran as a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention”, a move aimed at pressuring Tehran over its practice of holding foreigners, including Americans, as leverage in political negotiations. The announcement, made by Senator Marco Rubio, follows a new law that allows Washington to formally call out countries that unjustly detain people.
In a statement, Rubio said Iran has a long history of taking hostages, starting with the 1979 US Embassy seizure in Tehran, and continues to detain innocent Americans for political gain. “The Iranian government must release all unjustly held Americans immediately,” he said, urging citizens in Iran to leave the country as soon as possible. “No American should travel to Iran under any circumstances.”
While the new designation does not automatically impose sanctions, it gives the US legal tools to target Iranian officials and entities linked to wrongful detentions. Washington could also introduce travel restrictions for Americans trying to go to, through, or from Iran, adding further pressure on Tehran.
This step comes amid ongoing diplomatic tensions and stalled nuclear negotiations. Earlier this week, talks in Geneva over Iran’s nuclear programme failed to resolve key issues, and former President Donald Trump warned that “sometimes you have to use force” when diplomacy stalls.
Iran has rejected the US claims, stating that all detainees are being held under legitimate judicial proceedings. Human rights groups and US officials, however, say many cases involve dual citizens and foreign nationals detained for political reasons.
Americans are to avoid travel to Iran, and those already there ought to exercise caution and follow US government guidance. Rubio’s announcement is intended to send a strong signal to Tehran that holding foreign nationals as bargaining chips will no longer be tolerated.
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