US President Joe Biden extended for a year the validity of the decree, which allows the introduction of sanctions against organizations and individuals responsible for the illegal detention of American citizens abroad.
This was reported by the press service of the White House.
"I am extending for one year the state of emergency in the country in connection with the hostages and illegal detention of American citizens abroad," Biden's message reads.
Today, Russia's Federal Security Service and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intelligence organization are under sanctions for wrongful detention of Americans.
Sanctions against the Russian Federation and Iran for illegal detention of Americans
In July 2022, Biden signed executive order 14078 to provide the US administration with additional tools to prevent and end the hostage-taking and detention of US citizens. Such tools include financial sanctions and visa restrictions.
According to a statement by US officials, the steps taken should serve as a warning to those thinking about taking Americans hostage.
We will remind, at the end of March, Evan Hershkovich was detained in Yekaterinburg and accused of alleged "espionage". The US State Department declared Hershkovich "unlawfully detained" by Russia.
Bloomberg reported that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin personally approved Hershkovich's arrest.
