Getting Hotter, Marco Rubio Urges Citizens to Leave Iran Immediately

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. (Wikimedia Commons/Official State Department/Freddie Everett)

JAKARTA - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has asked all Americans not to travel to Iran and for those who are there to immediately leave the country.

"No American citizen should travel to Iran for any reason. We reiterate that Americans currently in Iran should leave immediately," the US Secretary of State said in a statement.

Rubio added that he designated Iran as a State Sponsor of Unlawful Detention following an executive order from US President Donald Trump.

"President Trump issued an Executive Order to Protect US Citizens from Unlawful Detention Abroad last fall, and Congress has passed the Unlawful Detention Eradication Act of 2025, which authorizes the Department to designate Iran as an Unlawful Detention Supporter State," he said.

"If Iran does not stop, we will be forced to consider additional measures, including plans to restrict geographic travel on the use of US passports to, through, or from Iran," Rubio added.

Previously, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States was open to all options in its approach to Iran, as well as urging the country to negotiate to reach an agreement.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Colorado on Monday (23/2), Hegseth reiterated that President Donald Trump preferred a diplomatic solution, but stressed that the US military was ready with an emergency plan if Iran refused to reach an agreement.

"Iran must make a deal. Iran has the opportunity to make a deal. That is the result that the president wants more," he said.

Hegseth emphasized that his party is tasked with providing various options, including having an option for President Trump if Iran decides to reject the deal.

When asked if a military strike was still being considered, Hegseth replied that "everything is still an option."