Rubio designates Tehran ‘State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention’
February 28, 2026: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday formally designated Iran as a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention,” accusing Tehran of systematically imprisoning Americans and other foreign nationals for political leverage. In a public statement, Rubio said the Iranian regime has detained innocent individuals since the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, referencing the takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran. The move builds on an executive order signed by President Donald Trump and the Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025 passed by Congress. Officials clarified that while Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984, this new classification is legally distinct and specifically addresses arbitrary detentions.
Under the designation, the US State Department gains expanded authority to impose sanctions, restrict exports and enforce visa bans against individuals and entities linked to wrongful detentions. Officials indicated that further steps could include limits on the use of US passports for travel to or through Iran. The department reiterated its travel advisory urging Americans not to visit Iran and called on US citizens currently there to leave immediately, describing potential travel restrictions as one of the strongest deterrent tools available.
The development comes as indirect nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain stalled following talks in Geneva. Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of discussions, reiterating that Iran “cannot have nuclear weapons.” While acknowledging the risks of escalation, the administration signalled that preventing Iran from developing nuclear arms remains a central priority even as diplomatic efforts continue.