The United States said Thursday that it was prepared to levy more sanctions on the Turkish economy is Ankara does not release imprisoned American pastor Andrew Brunson. "We have put sanctions on several of their cabinet members," Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told President Donald Trump in a cabinet meeting attended by the press. "We have more that we are planning to do if they dont release him quickly." Trump prefaced Mnuchins remarks by saying that Turkey had not been a very good friend. Referring to Brunson, Trump said: "He’s a very innocent man." The United States and Turkey have exchanged tit-for-tat tariffs in Trump’s attempt to persuade Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to give up Brunson, who denies charges that he was involved in a coup attempt against Erdogan two years ago. The dispute over Brunson and other frictions between Washington and Ankara have been one reason the Turkish lira has plunged 40 percent this year. Investors also fret over Erdogan’s influence over monetary policy. The lira lost strength after Mnuchin’s remarks. Trump said the United States had helped Turkey in a related incident, but that the NATO ally had not repaid the favor. “They want to hold our wonderful pastor. Not fair, not right,” he added. Trump, who doubled steel and aluminum tariffs on Turkey, said the steel tariffs have kicked in the aluminum tariffs will take effect soon.