WATCH: State Department spokesman Ned Price says ‘our position has not changed’ on Snowden

The State Department says the United States position “has not changed” regarding former American intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

Watch Prices’ remarks in the player above.

“Mr. Snowden should return to the United States where he should face justice as any other American citizen would,” Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

Price’s comments came Monday after Russia granted citizenship to Snowden, who fled prosecution after he revealed highly classified U.S. surveillance programs to capture communications and data from around the world.

A decree signed Monday by Russian President Vladimir Putin listed Snowden as one of 75 foreign citizens listed as being granted Russian citizenship.

After fleeing the U.S. in 2013, Snowden was granted permanent Russian residency in 2020 and said at the time that he planned to apply for Russian citizenship without renouncing his U.S. citizenship.

READ MORE: Edward Snowden granted Russian citizenship by Putin

Ties between Washington and Moscow are already at their lowest point in decades following Putin’s decision to launch what the Kremlin has dubbed a “special military operation” in Ukraine.

While Snowden, 39, is considered by supporters to be a righteous whistleblower who wanted to protect American civil liberties, U.S. intelligence officials have accused him of putting U.S. personnel at risk and damaging national security. He currently faces charges in the United States that could result in decades in prison.

Price also spoke with reporters about the ongoing protest in Iran.

Protests over the death of Mahsa Amini have spread across at least 46 cities, towns and villages.

Iranian state TV has suggested that at least 41 protesters and police have been killed since the protests began September 17.

An Associated Press count of official statements by authorities tallied at least 13 dead, with more than 1,400 demonstrators arrested.