The U.S. State Department has revoked travel privileges for senior Iranian officials and their families, saying those who benefit from the regime's repression should not gain access to U.S. immigration benefits. Human rights group Hrana reports over 6,200 protesters killed and nearly 17,100 arrested since Dec. 28 amid internet shutdowns—figures that are difficult to independently verify. Iranian officials have pushed back on some U.S. claims, while Tehran and Washington trade increasingly sharp warnings as nuclear talks and diplomatic pressures continue. The State Department also urged Iran to spare 19-year-old protester Saleh Mohammadi from execution.
State Department Revokes U.S. Travel Privileges For Senior Iranian Officials Amid Deadly Crackdown — Senator Rubio Praises Action
Demonstrators in London burn pictures of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei outside the Iranian embassy during a rally in support of nationwide protests Jan. 12 in Iran.(Getty Images)
The U.S. State Department announced this week that it has revoked the privilege for senior Iranian officials and their family members to travel to the United States, citing the Iranian regime's continuing repression of protesters.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana) has reported that more than 6,200 protesters have been killed and nearly 17,100 arrested since Dec. 28, while Iran has significantly restricted internet communications. These figures are reported by Hrana and have not been independently verified in this article.
"Those who profit from the Iranian regime's brutal oppression are not welcome to benefit from our immigration system," the State Department wrote on X, announcing the action. The department framed the measure as part of broader efforts to deny refuge, visas, or benefits to individuals deemed complicit in violent suppression of dissent.
Sen. Marco Rubio publicly supported the measure, praising the State Department's decision. The announcement follows sharply rising international scrutiny over Tehran's response to nationwide protests.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sits next to a senior military official in Iran.
Diplomatic Tensions and Rhetoric
The episode has heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran during efforts to negotiate a potential nuclear agreement. Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned that Iran's armed forces are "prepared — with their fingers on the trigger — to immediately and powerfully respond to ANY aggression against our beloved land, air, and sea." Araghchi also said Iran remains open to a fair nuclear deal that preserves peaceful nuclear rights while preventing proliferation.
Former President Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, warning that a "massive" armada was headed to the region and suggesting force could be used "with speed and violence, if necessary," while urging Iran to negotiate. "Time is running out," he wrote, referencing past and potential future military actions.
Disputed Claims and Human Rights Appeals
Iran's top prosecutor has publicly rejected a U.S. claim that more than 800 executions were halted, calling that assertion "completely false," a dispute that underscores the conflicting narratives surrounding rights abuses inside Iran.
The state tax building burned during Iran's protests on a street in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 19, 2026.
The State Department also urged Tehran to overturn the death sentence for 19-year-old Saleh Mohammadi, a decorated wrestler who was arrested while peacefully protesting. U.S. officials say such individual cases underscore broader concerns about due process and the use of capital punishment in the crackdown.
Fox News Digital noted contributions from Alex Nitzberg to coverage of this story.
Context Note: Coverage of casualty and arrest figures is based on reports from Iranian rights groups and media; independent verification is often difficult in the midst of internet shutdowns and restricted access. This article attributes reported figures where appropriate.
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