Rubio Calls for the Release of American Hostages and Emphasizes Not Traveling to Iran

In an official statement yesterday, Friday, the U.S. Department of State designated Iran as a state sponsor of unlawful detention, emphasizing the need for the Iranian regime to cease its hostage-taking practices and release all wrongfully detained Americans.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated his call for American citizens in Iran to leave the country immediately, stressing that "no American should travel to Iran for any reason."

He added: "These steps are necessary to end the designation and the associated actions."

* Travel Warnings and Security Risks

In a related context, the U.S. Embassy in Israel issued a security notice urging non-essential U.S. government employees and their families to leave the country, warning of potential travel restrictions in areas including parts of Jerusalem, such as the Old City, and the West Bank, amid rising concerns over escalating security tensions.

Several countries have already begun withdrawing their diplomatic staff and family members from both Iran and Israel, while other nations have advised their citizens to postpone travel or leave immediately, fearing a potential outbreak of conflict.

* Omani-American Negotiations

On another note, Oman described the negotiations between Iran and the U.S. as positive, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the momentum of discussions to resolve outstanding issues, according to statements from the Omani Foreign Minister to his Gulf counterparts.