US President's Warning to Iranian and Russian Officials: Immediately Release American Hostages

The President of the United States, in a statement regarding the government's actions to prevent the hostage-taking of American citizens, said: "My administration is employing new tools to impose heavy economic costs on those who take Americans hostage or unjustly detain them around the world." He added: "From day one of my administration, we have prioritized the safe return of Americans who have been taken hostage or unlawfully detained abroad; we have brought dozens of Americans home, but there are still many Americans, including in Russia, Iran, and elsewhere, who are unlawfully detained, and we are seeking new ways to bring them back to their country and to their families." The US President continued, referring to new sanctions imposed by the State Department and the Treasury Department against individuals involved in the unlawful detention of Americans, stating: "These sanctions against four individuals and two security services in Russia and Iran mean that all their assets and interests that are within the jurisdiction or control of the United States will be blocked." Joe Biden also added: "These actions utilize the executive order I issued last summer, which itself was based on the 2020 Hostage Recovery and Hostage Taking Act, to sever the connections of those involved in the hostage-taking of Americans from the legitimate financial system." In conclusion, Biden stated: "My message to Russia, Iran, and all governments around the world that have taken Americans hostage or unjustly detained them is: release them immediately." The United States, on Thursday, sanctioned the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and four of its senior commanders for their role in the detention of American citizens. The US Treasury Department identified the sanctioned individuals as Mohammad Kazemi, "Commander of the Intelligence Organization of the IRGC"; Mohammad Mehdi Sayyari, "Deputy Commander of the Intelligence Organization of the IRGC"; Rouhollah Bazghandi, "an official in the counter-intelligence department of the IRGC Intelligence Organization"; and Mohammad Hassan Mohagheghi, "Deputy Commander of the Intelligence Organization of the IRGC." Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, and Emad Sharqi are among the Iranian-Americans whom the Islamic Republic has accused of espionage and imprisoned. Navid Mohibi: In the "Mahsa Law," all direct and indirect appointees of Khamenei will be subject to sanctions. Details of the new sanctions by the US, UK, and EU against the Islamic Republic are reported by Gita Arin. A group of Republican and Democratic senators have called for the confiscation of seized Iranian oil. The Iranian Navy has seized an oil tanker in the international waters of the Sea of Oman. The US has sanctioned the Intelligence Organization of the IRGC and four of its commanders. The "Mahsa Law" has been approved in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Michael McCaul's reaction to the approval of the "Mahsa Law" in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Continued military cooperation between Iran and Russia; Ukraine directly sanctions Iran.