WASHINGTON, D.C (VINnews)- The United States has officially designated Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention, marking a significant new layer of diplomatic and economic pressure on the Iranian regime for its longstanding practice of detaining American citizens and others as political leverage.

The announcement came directly from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated: “Today, I am designating Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention. When the Iranian regime seized power 47 years ago, Ayatollah Khomeini consolidated his control of power by endorsing the hostage taking of U.S. embassy staff. For decades, Iran has continued to cruelly detain innocent Americans, as well as citizens of other nations, to use as political leverage against other states. This abhorrent practice must end.”

The designation builds on an Executive Order signed by President Donald Trump on September 5, 2025, titled “Strengthening Efforts to Protect U.S. Nationals from Wrongful Detention Abroad.” Modeled after the established “State Sponsors of Terrorism” list — on which Iran has appeared since 1984 — the order authorizes the Secretary of State to label countries that engage in or support the wrongful detention of U.S. nationals. Such designations can trigger penalties including economic sanctions, visa restrictions, cuts to foreign assistance, export controls, and even geographic travel restrictions warning or barring U.S. passport holders from traveling to the country.

Congress further strengthened this framework with the passage of the Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025, which provided explicit statutory authority for the Iran designation.

Iran, already subject to extensive U.S. sanctions due to its terrorism sponsor status, now faces additional consequences aimed at deterring the use of “hostage diplomacy.” The U.S. has repeatedly highlighted cases of Americans held in Iran on what Washington describes as fabricated charges, often involving dual nationals or accusations of espionage. The move also responds to broader concerns about wrongful detentions involving U.S. citizens in countries such as Russia, China, Afghanistan, and others.

Secretary Rubio emphasized the path forward, urging Iran to “stop taking hostages and release all Americans unjustly detained in Iran, steps that could end this designation and associated actions.” He added that failure to comply could prompt further measures, including potential restrictions on U.S. passport use for travel to, through, or from Iran.

The designation remains in effect until terminated, which would require verifiable releases of detainees, policy shifts by the foreign government, and credible assurances against future wrongful detentions.