Relations between Turkey and the US threatened to hit a new low late on July 26 after US President Donald Trump warned he would slap “large sanctions” on the country unless Ankara freed American pastor Andrew Brunson on trial in Turkey on terrorism charges.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu quickly responded that Turkey would never tolerate threats from anybody, saying: “No one dictates to Turkey. We will never tolerate threats from anybody. Rule of law is for everyone; no exception.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin added in a statement: “The United States must reconsider its approach and adopt a constructive position before inflicting further damage to its own interests and its alliance with Turkey.”

Trump’s tweeted threat of sanctions read: “The United States will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their long time detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson, a great Christian, family man and wonderful human being. He is suffering greatly. This innocent man of faith should be released immediately!”

Turkey’s treatment of Brunson has been cited by US officials who have warned that, though the country is a fellow member of Nato, it may not receive its ordered F-35 stealth jets if it does not change its position on the prosecution of the pastor and other matters such as Ankara’s planned acquisition of Russia’s S-400 advanced missile defence system. Last week, US senators said they were weighing bipartisan legislation that would restrict loans from international financial institutions to Turkey until it released Brunson and other US citizens, of which there are more than a dozen. The US, meanwhile, may also not be thrilled by Turkey’s assertion on July 25 that it is not obliged to cooperate with its sanctions targeted at neighbour Iran.

Where news concerning Brunson was concerned, July 26 seemed to get off to a great start with an announcement that he had been moved from a jail to house arrest for the duration of his trial. Markets traded slightly up on the development as hopes rose that a breakthrough might be ahead in ending frosty relations between the US and Turkey, which also have differences over how to deal with the conflict in Syria.

It is conceivable that it was the feelings of US Vice President Mike Pence, a devout Christian, that were behind the change in the expected course of events. Shortly before Trump tweeted, Pence, who was present at a religious freedom event hosted by the US State Department, said: “To President Erdogan and the Turkish government, I have a message on behalf of the President of the United States of America: release Pastor Andrew Brunson now or be prepared to face the consequences.”

Brunson is from North Carolina and has worked in Turkey for more than 20 years. He has been accused of helping a group Ankara says was behind the failed military coup in 2016 and engaging in espionage. The pastor, who has denied the charges, faces up to 35 years in jail if found guilty.

On July 25, Brunson was escorted out of prison in the coastal city of Izmir, and left in a convoy of cars. His lawyer said he was ordered to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, Reuters reported.

Washington had expected him to be freed a trial hearing last week, believing a deal was in place, a source in the US told the news agency.

The Christian right is an important component of Trump and Pence’s voting base.