Politics
12:30, 24-Jul-2017
Iran rejects Trump's threats over detained US citizens
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Iran has rejected US President Donald Trump's demands to release US citizens, saying US had no control over Iran's judiciary, local media reported on Sunday.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi emphasized in a statement that "any interventionist and threatening statement by American officials and institutions has no effect on the will and determination of the country's judicial system to try and punish criminals and violators of the country's laws and national security."
The US statement followed remarks by an Iranian Judiciary official on July 16 that a US citizen has been sentenced for 10 years over espionage charges.
President Donald Trump at a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on May 18, 2017. /VCG Photo
President Donald Trump at a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on May 18, 2017. /VCG Photo
Trump then warned Iran will be under risk of facing "new and serious consequence" unless all unjustly detained US citizens are released and allowed to leave.
Bahram described Trump's threats as "interference and unacceptable stand."
Iran has sentenced several such foreign nationals including those from US, UK, Canada, Austria and France since last year. These detained nationals are accused of spying or cooperating with rival state's government.