Trump's tough stance on Iran could leave hostages stranded

The Trump administration's get-tough approach to Iran, including an executive order putting a halt to travelers and immigrants coming from that country along with six other Muslim-majority nations, has Democratic critics even more worried about the fate of American citizens and others with strong U.S. ties imprisoned in Iran.

In the last remaining weeks of the Obama administration, a cadre of White House officials had reportedly hoped they could secure one last deal with Iran and bring home at least some of the five hostages with strong U.S. ties being held there.

But hopes started fading for the hostages' release after Trump's executive order. Tehran responded in kind, putting a stop to any U.S. citizens traveling to Iran for the foreseeable future.

What's more, in the wake of an Iranian missile test, the administration imposed new tariffs on Teheran. And this week, Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn put "Iran on notice" that the U.S. would no longer tolerate violations of international agreements.

Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations panel, told the Washington Examiner that Trump's immigration ban and more bellicose language on Iran has broad implications for U.S. allies and could also prevent the safe return of Americans or permanent legal U.S. residents held in Iran.