The United States has formally designated Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention, citing decades of detaining foreign nationals for political leverage.
In a press statement issued on 27 February 2026, the move was linked to longstanding concerns over Iran’s detention of Americans and other foreign citizens. US authorities said the practice dates back to the aftermath of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, when Ruhollah Khomeini consolidated power and endorsed the hostage-taking of US embassy staff.
Officials stated that the detention of innocent individuals has remained a recurring feature of Iranian state conduct and described the practice as unacceptable.
The designation follows an Executive Order signed by President Donald Trump last year aimed at protecting US nationals from wrongful detention abroad. It was further supported by the passage of the Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025 by Congress, which authorised the Department of State to apply the designation to Iran.
The US government warned that additional measures could be considered if the situation persists. These may include potential geographic travel restrictions affecting the use of US passports to, through, or from Iran.
American authorities have called on Iran to release all unjustly detained US citizens, noting that such steps could lead to a reconsideration of the designation and related actions.
The statement also advised that no American should travel to Iran under any circumstances and urged US citizens currently in the country to leave immediately.
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