Will any U.S. citizen be formally designated and detained as an “enemy combatant/operative” in connection with Iran hostilities, outside of ordinary criminal process, on or before 31 December 2025?

Resolution

• YES if both occur:
  

  1. A U.S. executive agency (DoD, DoJ, CIA, etc.) publicly acknowledges the designation or a court filing / Federal Register notice does;

  2. Detention lasts >72 h without civilian criminal charges.

• NO otherwise.

Transfers later to standard criminal custody nullify YES only if the initial detention never met 72 h threshold.

Sources: DoD press statements, habeas filings, Federal Register, credible national outlets citing official confirmation.