Tehran, July 22 (RHC)-- Iran has dismissed as “unacceptable and meddlesome” a recent statement by the White House against the Islamic Republic, saying the U.S. statesmen must use the language of respect when addressing the Iranian people.

“As it has repeatedly been proven, the Islamic Republic of Iran will never yield to any kind of bullying under any condition and the U.S. statesmen must speak with the noble Iranian nation with the language of respect,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Saturday.

Qassemi made the comments in reaction to a Friday White House statement warning Iran of "new and serious consequences" unless all detained American citizens in Iran were released and returned.

According to the statement, U.S. President Donald Trump demanded that Iran return Robert Levinson, a former U.S. law enforcement officer who disappeared in Iran’s Kish Island in 2007.