emad shargi was from the d.c. area and another is from the connecticut area. on the u.s., they're running nationals on the u.s. side, related to sanctions violations. very specific category. not a violent crime, not anything domestic, but essentially in for and export violations. essentially the government dropped the charges. but some of them were already residents of the united states. one was a resident of canada. it is a personal decision, there going back to where lives or family were. that decision is a personal decision. one or two have decided to go back to iran. it has been very specific categories. this was similar to what happened under the president -- the swap. amy: i wanted -- give out the anniversary of the killing of mahsa amini and her father being arrested, the state of the protest movement in iran right now as the president of iran addresses the u.n. general assembly? >> the anniversary was essentially prepared with a very heavy security presence, pressure on family, pressure on activists, university -- anyone who could potentially show leadership in br

in a statement, emad shargi's sister neda said, this is my brother, not an abstract policy. we are talking about human lives. there is nothing partisan about saving the lives of innocent americans and today should be a moment of american unity as we welcome them home. in a deal struck with the iranians, the five americans were released in exchange for grants of clemency by the u.s. government for five iranian nationals. kaveh lotfolah afrasiabi, mehrdad ansari, amin hasanzadeh, reza sarhangpour kafrani, and kambiz attar kashani. and the transfer of $6 billion in frozen iranian assets held in south korea to a restricted account in qatar. iran can only use the funds for humanitarian purposes. two of the five iranians released, kafrani and ansari, were seen in qatar, headed back to iran. >> we are hoping to get the iranian assets under full control today and the funds are deposited into the account the islamic republic of iran announced in a friendly regional country. reporter: some lawmakers have been critical of the biden administration for making a deal with iran. >> even a

for the first time in years, siamak namazi and morad tahbaz and emad shargi are the three that we knowe since 2015. and they've been powerful advocates. they met with members of congress, they had rallies in front of the white house, they pushed to meet with president biden. all of these efforts was to push the administration do whatever it takes to bring their loved ones home. that's ultimately what we saw play out with this deal between the u.s. and iran. one of the officials most involved is roger gerson. he was there in doha, he through with them overnight, back to the united states, and he was there for that emotional reunion early this morning. this is what he told cnn about that moment. >> i can say i probably haven't cried this much since i was a little kid. there's a chance to watch five different people, seven people in total, interact in a way that was very amazing. this is the first time they've had a chance to talk without being surveilled by the iranian government in years. to watch them relax, lighten up, share laughs. >> yeah, so roger said this was a really powerful mo

and accompanying emad shargi and morad tahbaz who also holds british citizenship. of their family members on the plane with them it which will be landing in qatar probably in the next hour. they'll probably go through quick medical checks in qatar. and from there, they'll be flying to washington with the two family members. in explain, the iranians are getting back five prisoners held in the u.s. now, only two of them are coming to iran, ana, the others have legal status in the united states and decided to stay there. and the other two are in qatar, we can presume that plane taking iranian americans to qatar will then bring the iranian policers back to iran. and the deal will be completed. as you mentioned the iranians received that $6 billion in a qatari bank account that they will have access to. that was the main thing for them, as long as they got that money because the country's in such a financial chaos. so that's really what was needed to cement the deal. that transfer has been made. but as you know, there's also been a lot of contention about that money. th

. >> reporter: it's the same year emad shargi was first arrested and held without trial in iran's notorious prison what is considered trumped up espionage charges. in return five were granted clemency. two will remain in the u.s., two others will be returned to iran. critics worry now as part of the deal iranians will have access to $6 billion held in a restricted account in qatar. >> these monies can be used to support terrorist organizations and adventuresome actions of iran. >> repororter: the b biden adadministratition insiststs th treasury can prevent that misuse and only permit humanitarian purchases like food and medicine. >> the funds were moved to another bank where we have absolute oversight of how they're used, and we have absolute confidence in the process and the system that's been set up. >> reporter: another concern is that releasing funds incentivizes hostage-taking by putting the price on the heads of other americans. as for other diplomacy with iran, both president biden and iran's president are in new york city, but they have no plans to meet. margaret brennan, cbs news,

year—old, morad tahbaz, arrested five years ago in a crackdown on environmental activists. 58—year—old emad shargin arrested in 2020, also on charges of spying, and 51—year—old siamak namazi, an oil executive, who spent the longest in tehran�*s notorious evin prison. he issued this statement today... we spoke to one of his relatives, who also spent time in evin prison. it is a joyful day, but knowing siamak, and his very strong personality, and his values, i'm sure that he will try to come out of this trauma as soon as possible so he can dedicate his time to constructive ideas. free men, arm in arm. he then took a call from the top diplomat in america, who has vowed to stop this hostage taking. we will take steps every day to make this practice more and more difficult, and more and more of a burden on those countries that engage in it. this is such an extraordinary moment in this very ordinary setting, marking the end of a very painful, personal ordealfor americans, who became bargaining chips in iran's wrangling with the west and they could only secure their freedom through this very political de

oil executive siamak namazi, held for eight years, conservationist morad tahbaz, and businessman emad shargiere accused of espionage, which they vehemently deny. the fourth and fifth americans wish to remain anonymous. in exchange for their freedom, the biden administration granting clemency to five iranians held in the u.s. and agreeing to unfreeze $6 billion in iranian oil revenues that had been held up by u.s. sanctions. the biden administration adamant that this is not american money and that iran has agreed to only use the funds for humanitarian purposes. >> this involved the access by iran to its own money. >> reporter: but top republicans say any deal with iran is dangerous. >> unfortunately, the deal that secured their release may very well be the latest example of president biden rewarding and incentivizing tehran's bad behavior. >> reporter: president biden today defending the negotiation, saying it ended years of agony, uncertainty and suffering, adding, reuniting wrongfully detained americans with their loved ones has been a priority for my administration since day one. >> byron:

oil executive siamak namazi held for eight years, conservationist morad tahbaz, and businessman emad shargi, were accused of espionage, which they vehemently deny. the fourth and fifth americans wish to remain anonymous. earlier this year, in an interview with cnn from behind bars, namazi appealing directly to president biden. >> i keep getting told that i might be rescued, and deals fall apart where i get left abandoned. honestly, the other hostages and i desperately need president biden to finally hear us, to finally hear our cry for help, and bring us home. >> reporter: today, after 2,898 days in captivity, he thanked the president, saying in a statement he looks forward to getting re-acquainted with liberty, saying, "i want to lay back on the grass with the warm sun on my face and gaze up at the open blue skies." in exchange for their freedom, the biden administration granting clemency to five iranians held in the u.s. and agreeing to unfreeze $6 billion in iranian oil revenues that had been held up by u.s. sanctions. the biden administration adamant that this is not american money and

. >> reporter: iranian detained environmentalist, the same year emad shargi was arrested and held without on what u.s. considers trumped up charges. five iranian nationals were dedelivered clemency. two remain in the u.s., two returning to iran today. and the regime will now as part of the deal have access to $6 billion of unfrozen iranian oil access held in qatar. >> this can be used to support terrorist organizations and other actions of iran. >> reporter: the biden administration insists that they can withhold that misuse. and itit will onlyly be used f r food and medicine. >> they are moved to another bank where we have absolute oversight of how they are used. and we have absolute confidence in the system that has been set up. >> reporter: another concern is that releasing funds incentivizes hostagetaking by putting a price on the head of other americans. as for other diplomacy with iran, both president biden and iran's president are in new york city, but, norah, they do not have plans to meet. >> norah: what a development, margaret brennan, thank you very much. a man hunt over in los

also emad shargi and other person detained since 2013.vironmentalists detained in 2018. all of them convicted of spying charges which is led the united states to say that these are not ordinary prisoners, these are not ordinary prisoners, these are not ordinary prisoners, these are hostages. as part of the swap, we understand that two of the iranians released from american jails today are not expected to return to iran. those five prisoners, according to irani and officials, were charged with violations of us sanctions. three of them had actually been awaiting trial, two of them the sentences were about to expire. they have now been freed, given clemency as the phrase being used by the united states as part of this prisoner swap. us officials are clear. this was a very difficult decision. negotiations, talks, negotiating with nine rounds of talks here in qatar. in separate hotels, qatari officials shuttling between them trying to wrestle with all of the difficult details to come up with the mechanism so that president biden could say to a

americans -- oil executive siamak namazi held since 2015, conservationist morad tahbaz, and businessman emad shargi, were accused of espionage -- which they vehemently deny. the fourth and fifth americans want to remain anonymous. all five were transferred from prison to house arrest in tehran while the agreement between the u.s. and iran was finalized. >> my belief is that this is the beginning of the end of their nightmare, and the nightmare that their families have experienced. >> reporter: under the deal, iran can only use the $6 billion for humanitarian purposes. but critics say iran shouldn't have access to this money at all. now, officials here insist there are a lot of checks in place on how iran can spend this $6 billion. the u.s. treasury, we are told, will have eyes on these transactions, and veto power. and david, tonight, we're told these five americans could be coming home as soon as next week. david? >> david: all right, mary bruce live at the white house. mary, thank you. >>> next tonight here, north korea's dictator kim jong-un is on his way to russia now to meet with vladimir puti

also emad shargi, another businessperson detained since 2018.hbaz, an environmentalist, also detained in 2018, all of them convicted of spying charges, which has led the united states to say these are not ordinary prisoners, these are hostages. as part of this swap, we understand that two of the iranians released from american jails arrived in doha today. the three others released as part of this deal are not expected to return to iran. those five prisoners, according to the iranian officials, they were either convicted or charged with what were violations of us sanctions. three of them had actually been awaiting trial. two of them, the sentences were about to expire, but they have now been freed, given clemency, is the phrase being used by the united states as part of this prisoner swap. us officials are clear, this was a very difficult decision in negotiations, indirect talks, talks negotiated or nine rounds of discussions here in qatar, iranians and americans in separate hotels. qatari officials shuttling between them, trying to wrestle with

emad shargi, 58—year—old, a businessman arrested in 2020, also on charges of spying.ld siamak namazi, who spent the longest in the notorious evin prison. and oil executive. he issued this statement today... we spoke to one of his relatives who also spent time in evin prison. it is a joyful day but knowing siamak namazi and his strong personality and his values, i'm sure that he will try to come out of this trauma as soon as possible so he can dedicate his time to constructive ideals. three men, arm in arm, and he then took a call from the top diplomat in america who has vowed to stop this hostage—taking. we will work every day to take steps every day to make this practice more and more difficult, and more and more of a burden on those countries that engage in it. this is such an extraordinary moment in this extraordinary setting, and a painful personal ordeal for americans who became bargaining chips in iran's wrangling with the west and they could only secure their freedom through this very political deal which is highly complex and deeply controversial. iran's leade

emad shargi was travelling in iran with his wife in 2018 when he was first detained.so on espionage charges. and there is also morad tahbaz. he is a british—american conservationist. he was arrested five years ago. he also received a ten year sentence. the fourth and the fifth american who also holds a iranian passport have not been revealed. the names of the five iranians prisons in the united states, not all of whom are expected to return to iran today, have been released by the iranian mission in new york. so this is an extraordinary moment, especially a rare moment of cooperation between iran and the united states, who do not have diplomatic ties. this complex deal was negotiated over nearly a year by the qatari officials, shuttling between american and iranian delegations in two separate hotels here in the qatari capital. and the end of their efforts will be seen today. lyse doucet, our — efforts will be seen today. lyse doucet, our chief _ efforts will be seen today. lyse doucet, our chief international correspondent, thank you very much. more women have come fo

emad shargi was travelling in iran with his wife in 2018 when he was first detained before being re—arrestedater for espionage. and morad tahbaz, a british—american conservationist of iranian descent, who was arrested five years ago. like siamak namzi, both men received 10—year sentences. the fourth and fifth prisoners have not been identified. the agreement will also see the release of $6 billion of iranian funds held in south korea, and five iranians imprisoned in us jails will be freed at the same time. five metropolitan police officers are due to appear at a gross misconduct hearing over the stop—and—search of athlete bianca williams. the british sprinter and her partner richard dos santos were stopped in their car in west london injuly 2020. they were handcuffed, searched and separated from their three—month—old son, but nothing was found and no arrests were made. new research suggests the social media platform snapchat was involved in nearly half of all online grooming crimes recorded by police in england and wales in the past year. figures obtained by the nspcc show there were more th

emad shargi was travelling with his wife in iran in 2018 when he was detained.ears later, he was rearrested. 0n espionage charges. and there is morad tahbaz, a british—american conservationist and environmentalist, he was arrested five years ago. also jailed for ten years. and we understand that the fourth and the fifth prisoner have asked for their identities not to be released to the public. this is a very sensitive deal. the iranian mission in new york released the names of the five iranians who will be freed from american prisoners —— prisons today, there were all convicted of violating us sanctions. the term given for them will be they have been given clemency. this is a very complex and controversial deal, so let's get more details and assessment from sanam vakil, the director of the north african programme at the london based think tank chatham house. in what terms would you describe this extraordinary deal between the united states and iran in direct talks mediated by qatar? i think this is an important _ talks mediated by qatar? i think this is an impor

to set free — morad tahbaz, a wildlife conservationist who also holds british citizenship, and emad shargirare moment of co—operation is unfolding. we have just been told that the five american prisoners have arrived at tehran tudors airport, it is a two hourflight here to tehran tudors airport, it is a two hour flight here to doha international airport, the old one. it is a deeply controversial deal, highly complex, but also very compassionate. president biden, the us president, has vowed to bring all americans home, including these five americans home, including these five americans who also hold iranians passports which the us describes as one fully detained, but they are widely regarded as hostages, used by iran as bargaining chips. the money which has arrived here in qatar banks this morning, $6 million, iranians money, they through selling oil to south korea. they can't access that directly, only third parties can use it to purchase non—sanctioned goods, including food and medicine. but the disagreements over this money, iran is saying, underlines the distrust which still exists betw

but as we understand it, those five american citizens, siamak namazi, emad shargi and morad tahbaz pluse not been identified haven't as yet, as we speak, boarded that flight in qatar. we'll be given an indication when that flight is in the air and has left iranian airspace, at which they will be about an hour, an hour and a half night from here. as we understand it, at present, though, this should be the end of what has been a years' long nightmare for these prisoner. as you rightly suggest, this is an exchange effectively, a very complicated and complex deal, which involves the exchange of five iranian prisoners who are currently in jail in the united states for sanction busting. and the release of $6 billion worth of iranian funds which, because of sanctions have been frozen in a south korean bank account for some time. as we understand it, those funds have now been unfrozen. and the role of qatar in all of this is not just been to mediate this deal, which has been 18 months in the making, but those funds, the $6 billion worth of iranian funds, will be transferred here to the qatar ce

this deal toelease these hosta hostages as deribed byhe united states, siamak namazi, emad shargi andahbaz. and two not identified yet. have been mediated by qatar, eight rounds of negotiation and sees the unfreezing of $6 billion of iranian funds. in now, funds that have been restricted in an account in south korea, under the u.s. sanctions policy. ccessfully transferred to nkn accounts in qatar. 's k to this deal, tha the qatarie mediating , that the qataris will be responsible for strictly controlling what the funds are spent on. because under the terms of the deal, the americans have stipulated these fund, the6 billion work of funds, iranian money at the end of the y, but these funds mustspent on nitarian goods, too. and we will know how much that is needed that is needed in iran rese. the deal also including the release of five iranians who are imprisoned ithe united states for sanctions busting. and most all of those prisoners evendmitted to by tehran this morning, actually looking to return to irantwo expected to return here. two expected to stay in the united states. and one e

morad tahbaz and emad shargi and siamak namazi. on to the u.s.y were released as part of a wider deal that includes the united states unfreezing 6 billion in iranian funds. these freed americans will have the option to participate in a department of defense program to help them acclimate back to life. remember, nahazi was in prison for almost eight years. we're going to speak with his uncle straight ahead. >> separate the policy and the politics for a minute and families being day >>> just hours from now, president biden is set to speak on the world stage at the united nations and it comes at a moment of global crisis or crises. there's a brutal grinding war in ukraine with no end in sight. catastrophic climate disasters around the world. the earth just had its hottest summer on record and a growing migrant crisis, just to name a few. several key world leaders wouldn't be there at the u.n., russia, china, france, the uk. their leaders are sitting this one out. it's casting doubt about how much can actually be accomplished this week. >> cnn chief

the americans include morad tahbaz imprinned eight years, emad shargi and siamak namazi. iran accused all three of espionage. the other two have asked not to be identified. president biden releasing a statement today saying in part, quote, five innocent americans who were imprisoned in iran are coming home after enduring years of agony, uncertainty and suffering. i'm grateful to our partners at home and abroad for their tireless efrlgtss to help us achieve this outcome. moments ago, secretary of state antony blinken said he spoked to the released prisoners. >> i can tell you that it was for them, for me, an emotional conversation. it's easy in the work that we do every day sometimes to get lost in the distractions of foreign polls and relations with other countries and forgetting the human element at the heart of everything we do. >> in this delicate prison swap the biden administration is releasing five iranian prisoners and unfreezing $6 billion in iranian oil revenues that were frozen under u.s. sanctions. some republicans blasting president biden for what they are cal

siamak namazi, but also, emad shargi and morad tahbaz and two others who have not wanted to be named. >> that's right. two others that have not wanted to be named and everyone has respected that. and siamak has been held since october 2015, that's nearly eight years, only because he's american. the same with the other two who have been held more or less for the two and a half and two years each. they have been held as part of the ongoing iranian strategy of trying to get its money back that has been frozen in many, many countries after the islamic revolution of 1979. and so this has just been going on. and at the heart of it, though, really, is a human story. at the heart of it are people who have been just swept up, you know, some sham trial, some completely irrelevant charges, some completely nonsensical sentences. and put into deep suffering in evine, which eall know to be such a hard, terrible place, where they have a whole set of different kinds of prisoners there, especially, they have political prisoners. you know, there are a lot of the protesters from, you know, this year of

. >> reporter: iran detained environmental morad tahbaz in 2018, the same year businessman emad shargiheld without trial in iran's notorious evin prison on what the u.s. considers trumped-up espionage charges. in return, fivee iranian nationals were granted clclemen. two will remain in the u.s. two others return to iran today. critics of the hostage diplomacy worried the regime will now, as part of the deal, have access to $6 billion worth of unfrozen iranian oil assets held in a restricted account in qatar. >> these monies can be used to support terrorist organizations, hezbollah, hamas, and, y you kn, actions s of iran. >> repeporter: the biden administration insists the u.s. treasury can prevent that misuse and only permit humanitarian purchases like food and medicine. >> the funds were moved to another bank where we have absolute oversight of how they're used, and we have absolute confidence in the process and the system that's been set up. >> reporter: now, another concern is that releasing funds incentivizes hostage-taking by putting a price on the head of other americans. as for