Washington : The United States has intensified its campaign against Iran’s leadership by officially naming the country a “state sponsor of wrongful detention,” a designation announced as diplomatic tensions rise over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran of exploiting foreign nationals including Americans as bargaining chips in international politics, a practice he described as cruel and unacceptable.
Rubio said the policy dates back to the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, when Ayatollah Khomeini consolidated power by endorsing the seizure of the US embassy in Tehran and the holding of its staff as hostages. He argued that for decades, Iranian authorities have “continued to cruelly detain innocent Americans, as well as citizens of other nations, to use as political leverage against other states.”
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The new designation stems from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last autumn to protect US citizens abroad, alongside the Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025, passed by Congress. According to the US State Department, the label itself does not immediately trigger sanctions but gives Washington enhanced tools to deter and respond to wrongful detentions.
The announcement also included stern travel guidance: the United States reiterated that “no American should travel to Iran for any reason,” urging those currently in the country to leave without delay. American officials signaled that further measures could follow if Tehran does not alter its behaviour, including potential geographic restrictions on the use of US passports to, through, or from Iran.
The designation comes amid ongoing indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran over the latter’s nuclear programme, where progress has been limited. President Trump later expressed dissatisfaction with the talks, underscoring the broader strain in ties between Washington and Tehran.
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