US Sanctions Russia and Iran for Illegal Detention of Americans

US Imposes Sanctions on Russia and Iran Over Wrongful Detention of Americans

The United States has taken a strong stance against Russia’s domestic security service FSB and the intelligence unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by imposing sanctions on them. The move comes after accusations that they were responsible or complicit in the wrongful detention of Americans overseas.

Targeted Sanctions

The sanctions also targeted four senior commanders within IRGC’s IO, although among them were at least one individual who had already been subject to previous U.S. sanctions. FSB, which was targeted because officials said it was involved in the detention of at least one U.S. citizen whose name was not disclosed, was also subject to previous U.S. sanctions.

Consequences for Wrongful Detention

Senior Biden administration officials said Thursday’s move aimed to show that there would be consequences for those who tried to use U.S. citizens for political leverage or seek concessions from Washington. “Our actions are a clear and direct warning to those around the world who wrongfully detain U.S. nationals of the potential consequences of their actions,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Promoting Accountability

The move aimed to promote accountability and prevent and deter further politically motivated detentions of Americans abroad. U.S. officials added that Thursday’s sanctions were just the beginning and that there was possibly more to come.

Plight of Americans Detained Abroad

Russia and Iran, two U.S. adversaries, hold a number of American citizens in their prisons, detentions Washington says are wrongful and politically charged. The plight of Americans detained by foreign governments has moved into the spotlight with more than 60 such detainees, according to the James Foley Foundation, named after an American journalist abducted and killed in Syria. At least several of them are jailed in Iran.

Compartmentalized Diplomacy

Ties between the United States and Russia have sunk to their worst in decades following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. However, the two former Cold War foes have managed to carry out compartmentalized diplomacy which resulted in two prisoner swaps last year. In one, Washington secured the release of U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner who was held in Russia on drug charges, by commuting the sentence of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Daphne Psaledakis, Editing by Nick Zieminski