The United States has expressed its deep concern over what it says continued religious prosecution of minorities in Iran."We're deeply troubled about reports coming out of Iran that a 20-year sentence of the seven Baha'i leaders was reinstated on appeal by the prosecutor general, a man the US recently imposed economic sanctions and a travel ban on for committing serious human rights violations," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

"We condemn this unprecedented step as a violation of Iran's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," Toner said in a statement.