Trump warns Iran of 'serious consequences' over detained Americans

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump has warned Iran of "new and serious consequences" over not releasing and returning detained Americans citizens, read a statement issued by White House.

President Trump urged Iran to return Robert Levinson, an American former law enforcement officer who has been held for over 10 years.

He also demanded Iran release Siamak and Baquer Namazi, who were taken during the Obama administration, along with all other American citizens unjustly detained by Iran.

The statement further added, "For nearly forty years, Iran has used detentions and hostage taking as a tool of state policy, a practice that continues to this day with the recent sentencing of Xiyue Wang to ten years in prison."

The statement said, "President Donald J. Trump and his Administration are redoubling efforts to bring home all Americans unjustly detained abroad."

On Tuesday, Washington imposed new economic sanctions on Iran to discourage its ballistic missile program and said Tehran's "malign activities" in the Middle East impede any "positive contributions" under the 2015 nuclear accord.