US Condemns Ongoing Hostage-Taking by the Islamic Republic on the Anniversary of the Embassy Occupation in Tehran

On Saturday, November 4, the US Department of State issued a statement marking the 44th anniversary of the occupation of its embassy in Iran, stating, "Unfortunately, the Iranian regime has a long history of unjustly detaining foreign nationals, which continues to this day." The statement begins by referencing the hostage-taking of American diplomats by "students following the line of Khomeini" and holding them for 444 days, expressing gratitude to these diplomats and all American diplomats who continue to advance US interests despite dangerous conditions worldwide. The statement further mentions the recent release of five Americans from "the captivity of the Iranian regime" and their return to their loved ones, adding, "While we celebrate their freedom and the exit of two family members from Iran who were previously barred from leaving, we condemn the continued detention of foreign citizens by [the Islamic Republic of] Iran as a bargaining tool." The US Department of State continues by condemning the Iranian regime's ongoing support for Hamas and other terrorist groups across the Middle East that engage in the abhorrent practice of hostage-taking. The statement once again warns American citizens to refrain from traveling to Iran "for any reason" due to the risk of arbitrary detention. In conclusion, the statement reaffirms the United States' commitment to working with like-minded partners to end the brutal practices of hostage-taking and arbitrary detention and to promote accountability for the Islamic Republic of Iran and other governments engaged in the unjust detention of citizens of other countries.