The United States designated Iran as a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention,” accusing the country of “cruelly detaining innocent Americans, as well as citizens of other nations for decades, to use as political leverage against other states”.
In a statement released on Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “Today, I am designating Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention”. He said that 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”.
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…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) February 27, 2026
US threatens additional steps if Iran doesn’t stop
The US State Department further warned that additional measures could follow if Iran does not stop. These could include potential geographic travel restrictions on the use of US passports to, through, or from Iran.
“The Iranian regime must stop taking hostages and release all Americans unjustly detained in Iran, steps that could end this designation and associated actions. We encourage it to do so.
‘Americans leave Israel’: US issues security alert
The US State Department reiterated its call for US citizens currently in Iran to leave the country immediately. Rubio added, “No American should travel to Iran for any reason.”
Also, a security alert was issued by the United States Embassy in Jerusalem on Friday advising American citizens to consider departing Israel as regional tensions intensify.
On February 27, 2026, the Department of State authorized the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of U.S. government personnel from Mission Israel due to safety risks.
In response to security incidents and without advance notice, the U.S.… pic.twitter.com/aWzX6Gk36x
— U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (@usembassyjlm) February 27, 2026