Marco Rubio: Iran designated state sponsor of wrongful detention | The Jerusalem Post

JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Iran has been designated as a state sponsor of wrongful detention, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a press statement on Friday.

"When the Iranian regime seized power 47 years ago, Ayatollah Khomeini consolidated his control of power by endorsing the hostage taking of US embassy staff," Rubio said in a statement. "For decades, Iran has continued to cruelly detain innocent Americans, as well as citizens of other nations, to use as political leverage against other states. This abhorrent practice must end."

According to Rubio's statement, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order last fall to protect US nationals from wrongful detention abroad, and Congress subsequently enacted the Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025, authorizing the Department to designate Iran as a state sponsor of wrongful detention.

"The Iranian regime must stop taking hostages and release all Americans unjustly detained in Iran, steps that could end this designation and associated actions," said Rubio.

The statement warned of further measures if Iran "does not stop," including a "geographic travel restriction on the use of US passports to, through, or from Iran."

Rising US-Iran tensions

Rubio also reiterated the call for Americans to leave Iran immediately, adding that "no American should travel to Iran for any reason."

Rubio's statement comes as tensions mount between the US and Iran, with President Trump saying on Friday he was "not happy" with the negotiations and pushing for "no enrichment."

"Sometimes you have to use force," the President warned, adding that he "would rather do it the peaceful way."

Marco Rubio is set to travel to Israel next week to discuss Iran and other regional issues, according to a State Department statement released on Friday.