By Daphne Psaledakis, Steve Holland and Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order paving the way for Washington to designate countries around the world a state sponsor of wrongful detention and impose punitive measures, including sanctions, on those it deems are wrongfully holding Americans.

Senior administration officials said the United States would target countries currently holding wrongfully detained Americans as well as those that engage in “hostage diplomacy,” including China, Iran and Afghanistan, which one official said would be reviewed for designation.

“The bottom line: Anyone who uses an American as a bargaining chip will pay the price. This administration is not only putting America first but also putting American

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