WP:

This week Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.) challenged President Trump to do more to bring home American citizens unjustly detained in Iran. But rather than criticizing Trump for failing to get the hostages freed, the senators are offering a constructive proposal for cooperation with our economic partners and allies — and Iran — on an issue that should be beyond party politics. 

In a letter to Trump, the senators suggested that countries seeking waivers from sanctions on the purchase of Iranian oil should be compelled to help win the release of Americans detained in Iran. Among them are Iraq, India and China: all three with important economic ties to the United States and Iran, and whose ability to purchase fuel from Iran is critical. 

They noted that there are nationals of at least 12 other nations — including Canada and the United Kingdom — that are being unlawfully detained in Iran. They propose the creation of a multinational task force to secure releases collectively, but also “to develop international norms that deter hostage-taking and the practice of using political prisoners as pawns in larger negotiations,” as Coons told me.

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