Washington D.C. – Reuters, Mar. 03, 2026
Iran is detaining at least six U.S. citizens or permanent residents, according to detainee advocates, raising fears they and thousands of Americans believed trapped in the country could be used as bargaining chips in the escalating war with the U.S. and Israel.
The detainees are among what some experts estimate are possibly thousands of dual U.S.-Iranian nationals and green-card holders who have remained in Iran despite repeated U.S. warnings not to travel there because of the threat of being arrested.
“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.”
