'Must End This Abhorrent Practice': US Designates Iran 'State Sponsor Of Wrongful Detention'

Last Updated:February 28, 2026, 09:59 IST

The US has designated Iran a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention,” with Marco Rubio and the FBI urging the release of Americans held in the country.

The United States has formally designated Iran as a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention," with Secretary of State Marco Rubio accusing Tehran of repeatedly imprisoning foreign nationals to gain political leverage.

In a post on X, Rubio mentioned, “Today I designated Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention. For decades, the Iranian regime has cruelly detained innocent Americans and citizens of other nations to use as political leverage."

“Iran must end this abhorrent practice and immediately free all unjustly detained Americans," he wrote.

The move marks the first designation under a new blacklist created by the United States targeting countries accused of wrongful detention practices.

The step comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and could eventually lead to restrictions, such as invalidating US passports for travel to Iran if progress is not made.

Rubio warned Iran must stop detaining Americans and release those held unjustly, adding that such steps could lead to the removal of the designation and related measures.

Iran has detained several Americans in recent years, often dual nationals whom Tehran considers Iranian citizens under its legal framework.

The designation itself does not automatically impose penalties but signals potential future actions by Washington.

Following Rubio’s announcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation also issued a statement on X emphasising ongoing efforts to bring detained Americans home.

The FBI wrote, “Today, the U.S. has designated Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention. The FBI remains committed to working with our federal and international partners to return Americans who are being held captive home and bring their captors to justice."

The agency added that the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell (HRFC) coordinates government-wide efforts to recover Americans held abroad and provides support to hostages and their families during and after release.

News world 'Must End This Abhorrent Practice': US Designates Iran 'State Sponsor Of Wrongful Detention'

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