Secretary of State Marco Rubio has designated 61-year-old Jewish Iranian American Kamran Hekmati as wrongfully detained in Iran, according to his cousin. The designation formally recognizes that Hekmati is being held on false charges in an effort to pressure the United States government.

Hekmati, a jewelry shop owner suffering from bladder cancer, is being held in Tehran's Evin Prison. He was arrested last year and convicted of visiting Israel under a law that prohibits such travel within the previous 10 years, despite documentation showing his last visit occurred 13 years before his arrest.

The designation means his case will receive high-level diplomatic attention and specialized government resources. His family said the decision reassures them that the government is committed to securing his safe return.