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Rubio: Iran Designated as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detentions

Published February 28, 2026, 09:11
Rubio: Iran Designated as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detentions

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has designated Iran as a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detentions,” condemning Tehran’s practice of holding innocent Americans and citizens of other nations as political leverage. This decision comes after decades of Iranian behavior that began with the hostage-taking of U.S. embassy personnel in 1979. Rubio emphasized that Iran must end this "abhorrent practice" and immediately release all unjustly detained individuals. This move was enabled by the enactment of the Wrongful Detention Act of 2025, which authorizes the State Department to designate countries as sponsors of wrongful detentions. The U.S. government has warned that if Iran does not comply, additional measures will be considered, including a potential travel restriction for U.S. citizens wishing to visit Iran. Americans currently in Iran are urged to depart immediately. This decision marks an escalation in U.S. pressure on Iran, aimed at securing the release of detainees and changing Iranian policy on this issue.