Overview
Detainee advocacy groups say Iran is detaining at least six people who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, and they warn that those individuals - along with possibly thousands of others believed to remain in Iran - may become bargaining chips as military actions intensify. The claims come amid a rapid escalation in violence after the United States and Israel launched strikes early on Saturday that, according to the reporting, killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other officials. Those strikes have prompted retaliatory Iranian actions across the region and prompted fears that Tehran will pursue additional measures to strike back at the United States.
Numbers and uncertainty
Advocates and former government officials acknowledge uncertainty about precisely how many Americans are in Iran. A source familiar with the matter said the U.S. State Department does not have an exact count. Detainee-rights groups and former hostage-recovery officials estimate that there may be hundreds or even thousands of dual U.S.-Iranian nationals and U.S. green-card holders who remain in Iran, often maintaining family ties despite repeated U.S. warnings not to travel there because of the risk of arrest.
"The regime's history of seeking to leverage Americans for political aims is long established," said Ryan Fayhee, a board member of the Foley Foundation advocacy group. "I would have to imagine that any American is potentially at risk."
Kieran Ramsey, a former FBI assistant director who led the U.S. hostage recovery unit and now works with the Global Reach advocacy group, similarly emphasized the scale of the population that could be exposed. "There are hundreds, if not thousands, if not more, of dual nationals that are back there that still have familial ties despite the risks," he said. Ramsey later cautioned that the recent strikes increase exposure for those individuals, saying, "When you have kinetic action and military strikes like this, it just ups the risk factor for these folks exponentially."
Known detainees and conditions
At least six dual U.S.-Iranian nationals or legal permanent residents are known to be either held in Tehran's Evin Prison, a facility long associated with political prisoners and detained foreigners, or barred from leaving Iran, according to Elizabeth Richards, research director at the Foley Foundation. The identities of three of those people have not been made public by advocates.
Among those publicly identified by detainee advocates are Shahab Dalili, a green-card holder who was arrested in 2016 at an airport after attending his father's funeral and sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of allegedly cooperating with a foreign government, the Foley Foundation said. Reza Valizadeh, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen arrested in 2024 after returning to Iran to visit elderly parents, was also sentenced to 10 years for what the Foley Foundation described as "collaboration with a hostile government." Advocates say Valizadeh, a journalist, is being held in Evin Prison.
Kamran Hekmati, a 70-year-old Jewish Iranian-American who owned a jewelry shop, was arrested last year and convicted under a law that bars visits to Israel within the past 10 years; his family says documentation showed his last trip occurred 13 years before his arrest. He is also suffering from bladder cancer, according to advocates, and was charged with espionage, a charge for which he has not been convicted. Ramsey, who represents Hekmati's family, said the espionage allegation was reportedly for an alleged meeting with Israeli intelligence agents. Ramsey added that Iran often appends such charges to signal that a detainee would be released only through a prisoner exchange with Washington.
Evin Prison itself has been a target in recent fighting. Israel bombed the facility during a 12-day air campaign last June, an attack Iran said killed at least 71 people. Advocates say some of those now detained are being held there or are prevented from leaving the country.
U.S. government actions and messaging
Securing the release of Americans deemed wrongfully detained has been highlighted as a foreign policy priority by U.S. President Donald Trump. The White House has stated that more than 70 Americans have been freed since the beginning of his second term in January 2025. However, the White House has not detailed how it would protect individuals detained since the onset of the strikes on Iran on Saturday.
Only hours before the U.S.-Israeli strikes began, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Iran as the first state sponsor of wrongful detention under an executive order signed by President Trump on September 5. Rubio said the designation could trigger measures including a ban on the use of U.S. passports for travel to and from Iran and other unspecified steps unless Tehran stops taking what he called "hostages" and releases all Americans. Rubio did not disclose the number of Americans he was referencing.
Detainee advocates interpreted the designation as a warning to Iran not to harm U.S. detainees or other American nationals, but they also voiced concern that the designation might be ignored, particularly if Iran's internal command structure is disrupted by the recent strikes.
Diplomatic and consular limits
Iran does not recognize dual nationality, a policy that limits the ability of other countries to provide diplomatic protection or consular services to citizens who also hold Iranian citizenship. That legal stance further complicates efforts by the U.S. government and advocacy groups to ascertain the scope of detentions or to secure assistance for U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are unable to leave the country.
Requests for comment on the detainee reports went unanswered or were not immediately returned. The office of the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and both the White House and the State Department did not immediately reply to requests. Iran's mission to the United Nations likewise did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Implications and outlook
Advocates and former officials stress a persistent danger for Americans in Iran, particularly dual nationals and green-card holders who have maintained ties to the country. With elevated military activity, the risk to these individuals is viewed as rising. The exact scale of the population at risk remains uncertain given limited government information, and detainee-rights organizations continue to press for clarity and action to protect those believed held or prevented from leaving.
Key points
- At least six U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents are reported detained in Iran, with advocates warning thousands of dual nationals or green-card holders may remain at risk.
- Recent U.S.-Israeli strikes that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other officials have led to retaliatory Iranian actions and increased concern that detainees could be used as leverage.
- The U.S. has designated Iran as a state sponsor of wrongful detention, a move that could trigger travel and passport restrictions, though details and the number of affected Americans were not disclosed.
Risks and uncertainties
- Uncertainty over the precise number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents in Iran complicates efforts to protect them - impacts diplomatic and consular operations.
- Escalating military strikes and retaliatory actions raise the risk that detainees could be leveraged in negotiations or exchanges - affects defense and foreign policy planning.
- The effectiveness of recent U.S. designations and potential travel restrictions is unclear and may not prevent harm to detainees if Iran's command structure is disrupted - carries implications for travel and legal protections.