The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Russia’s intelligence agency, the F.S.B., for its role in detaining Americans, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been accused of espionage. The administration has also announced sanctions on Iran’s intelligence services and four senior Iranian officials who have participated in a pattern of holding Americans and other nationals hostage. These actions mark the first attempt by the U.S. government to formally punish foreign governments for taking Americans by seeking to cut off access to the international financial system. In a statement on Thursday afternoon, President Biden urged both countries to release their hostages immediately.
“Today – and every day – our message to Russia, Iran, and the world is holding hostage or wrongfully detaining Americans is unacceptable,” Mr. Biden said. He added that the sanctions meant that “all of the…
2023-04-27 16:28:28
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