Rubio Designates Iran as Wrongful Detention Risk, Urges Immediate US Citizen Evacuation

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has officially designated Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention, urging all American citizens currently in the country to evacuate immediately. The announcement comes amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran during ongoing indirect nuclear negotiations.

“When the Iranian regime seized power 47 years ago, Ayatollah Khomeini consolidated his control by endorsing the hostage taking of U.S. embassy staff,” Rubio stated. “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.”

The designation follows President Donald Trump’s Executive Order to Protect U.S. Nationals from Wrongful Detention Abroad issued last fall and the subsequent Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025, which authorized the State Department to take this action against Iran.

Rubio warned that if Iran fails to change its behavior, the administration will consider “additional measures,” potentially including geographic travel restrictions on the use of U.S. passports to, through, or from Iran. He emphasized that no American should travel to Iran for any reason and reiterated the urgent call for those currently in the country to depart immediately.

This designation marks a significant diplomatic escalation as U.S.-Iranian relations grow increasingly strained. The move reflects longstanding concerns about Iran’s pattern of detaining foreign nationals, particularly Americans, as bargaining chips in international disputes.

The development coincides with Trump’s recent ultimatum to Iran, giving Tehran approximately 10 to 15 days to reach a nuclear agreement. During his State of the Union address, the president made it clear that the urgency to secure a deal was backed by the potential use of force.

When questioned by reporters on Friday about his satisfaction with Iran’s negotiating stance, Trump expressed displeasure but indicated he had not yet made a final decision regarding potential military strikes. “I’m not happy with the way Iran is negotiating,” he said, while declining to reveal how close he might be to making a decision on military action.

Military preparations appear to be underway, as eleven U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighters recently arrived at Israel’s Ovda Air Base in the country’s south. According to Fox News, this marks the first-ever operational deployment of American combat aircraft to Israel, signaling increased military readiness in the region.

Trump acknowledged the inherent risks of conflict in the Middle East when asked about the possibility of long-term engagement. “I guess you could say there’s always a risk,” he noted. “You know, when there’s war, there’s a risk in anything both good and bad.”

The State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention designation represents a targeted effort to pressure Iran on its detention practices while also serving as a warning to American citizens about the dangers of travel to the country. It adds another layer of complexity to the already tense relationship between Washington and Tehran, which has deteriorated further during recent nuclear talks.

The designation comes at a particularly volatile time in the Middle East, with ongoing regional conflicts and heightened military posturing between various powers. Iran’s practice of detaining foreign nationals has been a persistent point of contention in its relations with Western nations, and this formal designation elevates the issue to a new diplomatic level.

As the situation continues to develop, both nations appear to be at a critical juncture that could determine the trajectory of their relationship for years to come.