Washington has designated the Islamic Republic a state sponsor of “wrongful detention”
The United States has urged all Americans to leave Iran “immediately,” escalating rhetoric against Tehran while making demands for concessions on its uranium enrichment and ballistic missile programs amid a major military buildup in the Middle East.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Friday that Iran had been formally designated a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention,” accusing the Islamic Republic of holding foreign nationals for political leverage.
“No American should travel to Iran for any reason. We reiterate our call for Americans who are currently in Iran to leave immediately,” Rubio said. He warned that further measures could follow, including potential restrictions on the use of US passports for travel to or through Iran.
While US officials have portrayed the move as a response to longstanding grievances dating back to the 1979 hostage crisis, critics note that the announcement coincides with mounting pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program and the possibility of military action if talks collapse.
The warning was issued just as US President Donald Trump expressed pessimism about ongoing negotiations with Iran, reiterating that he would not accept any agreement allowing uranium enrichment. “They should make a deal, but they don’t want to quite go far enough,” he said. “So I’m not happy with the negotiation.”
Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, insisting its program is for peaceful purposes and subject to international verification. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the latest round of talks in Geneva on Thursday as the “most serious and longest” to date, with “good progress” made on both nuclear restrictions and sanctions relief.
Oman, which has been mediating the talks, also characterized the discussions as constructive. Technical-level meetings are scheduled to resume in Vienna next week.
The timing of Washington’s designation has fueled speculation that it may serve to harden public opinion ahead of a possible escalation. The Pentagon has deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups and additional air assets to the region in what officials are describing as a deterrent posture.
US Vice President J.D. Vance has sought to reassure Americans that any potential strike would not devolve into another prolonged Middle East conflict. “There is no chance” of a years-long war, he said on Thursday, while cautioning against what he called “overlearning” the lessons of past interventions.
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