The US adds Iran to its list of 'sponsors of wrongful detention' and urges citizens to evacuate urgently.
On February 28, the US government officially listed Iran as a "State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention," and issued an urgent warning urging all US citizens to immediately leave the Middle Eastern country.
According to the TASS news agency, in a press release issued on February 28, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran of using the detention of American citizens, as well as citizens of other countries, as political leverage for decades.
"No American should go to Iran for any reason whatsoever. We reiterate our call for all Americans currently in Iran to leave immediately," Rubio stressed.
At the same time, the US Secretary of State also left open the possibility of further sanctions if Tehran does not change its behavior, including the possibility of imposing geographical restrictions on the use of US passports to travel to, through, or out of Iran.
Observers note that, although Washington cites the need to protect its citizens, the timing of this announcement coincides with a period of intense pressure on Tehran regarding its nuclear program and the risk of military action if negotiations collapse.
The emergency evacuation warning came shortly after US President Donald Trump publicly expressed pessimism about the ongoing nuclear negotiations. Trump reiterated his hardline stance that Washington would not accept any deal that would allow Iran to continue enriching uranium. "They should come to a deal, but they don't want to go far enough. So I'm not happy with these negotiations," Trump stated.
In contrast to the cool attitude from the US, Tehran maintains a certain degree of optimism. The Iranian government consistently denies accusations of seeking nuclear weapons, asserting that its program serves peaceful purposes and is always under international scrutiny.
Commenting on the latest round of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 26, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called it the "longest and most serious" dialogue ever, noting "good progress" on both the nuclear disarmament mechanism and the easing of sanctions.
Oman, the country playing a mediating role, also described the discussions as constructive. Technical meetings between the parties are expected to resume in Vienna, Austria, next week.
Washington's sudden labeling of citizens as "sponsoring wrongful detention" and ordering them to leave immediately has fueled speculation that the U.S. is paving the way for escalating scenarios.
Notably, senior US leaders have also begun publicly addressing military scenarios. On February 26, US Vice President JD Vance reassured the domestic public about the risk of becoming bogged down if conflict broke out. Vance asserted that any potential airstrike against Iran would not escalate into a protracted conflict.
"A war that lasts for many years is unlikely," the US Vice President emphasized, while noting that observers should not "over-learn" from Washington's past military interventions.
