Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday designated Iran as a state sponsor of wrongful detention, accusing Tehran of using foreign nationals as political leverage. Rubio said the move reflects decades of what he called hostage-taking practices by the Iranian regime.
“When the Iranian regime seized power 47 years ago, Ayatollah Khomeini consolidated control by endorsing the hostage taking of US embassy staff,” Rubio said. He added that Iran has continued to detain Americans and other foreign citizens to extract concessions from governments.
Moreover, Rubio urged Iran to release all Americans it holds. He warned that the designation could trigger additional consequences if Tehran refuses to change course. “The Iranian regime must stop taking hostages and release all Americans unjustly detained,” he said.
In addition, Rubio reiterated a warning for Americans to leave Iran immediately. He stressed that no American should travel to Iran “for any reason.” The State Department also signaled it may impose geographic travel restrictions on US passports for travel to, through, or from Iran.
Meanwhile, tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to rise. President Donald Trump said Friday he was “not happy” with ongoing negotiations and pushed for a policy of “no enrichment.” Although he said he prefers a peaceful resolution, Trump cautioned that force remains an option if diplomacy fails.
Furthermore, Trump described Iranian leaders as “very dangerous and difficult people” in a post on X. Rubio will travel to Israel next week to discuss Iran and other regional security concerns, according to the State Department.
