Turkey to Freeze United States Officials Assets

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced retaliatory measures Saturday against the U.S., following the U.S. sanctioning of two senior ministers for the ongoing detention of an American pastor.

Erdogan announced the measures while speaking at a women's party meeting in Ankara. "We have shown patience until yesterday evening. Today I am instructing my friends that we will freeze the assets of U.S. secretaries of justice and interior in Turkey" Erdogan said. "Those who think that they can make Turkey take a step back by resorting to threatening language and absurd sanctions show that they do not know the Turkish nation."

On Wednesday, Washington sanctioned Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul, blocking their access to U.S. assets. The sanctions are for their role in the detention of U.S. Pastor Andrew Brunson.

Brunson was released into house arrest last month after nearly two years in jail. The pastor is on trial for espionage and terrorism charges over alleged links to conspirators blamed for Turkey's 2016 failed coup. Brunson faces up to 35 years in jail.

Washington dismisses the charges as baseless, accusing Ankara of hostage taking.