and siamak had been, you know, left behind three times. once under the obama administration prisoner swap and twice under the trump administration. anyway, this is what he told me back then. >> it was a heartfelt plea heard around the world. >> honestly, the other hostages and i desperately need president biden to finally hear us out, to hear our cry for help and bring us home. and i suppose desperate times call for desperate measures. so this is a desperate measure. i'm clearly nervous. >> siamak namazi was iran's longest-held american prisoner. he was arrested in 2015 while on a business trip and then sentenced to ten years for, quote, collaborating with a hostile state. namazi, a dual citizen, always denied the charge, and washington accused iran of wrongfully detaining him. this was the desperate appeal he made to us from inside evin prison in our unprecedented conversation. >> i think the very facts that i've chosen to take this risk and appear on cnn from evin prison, it should just tell you how dire my situation has become by this p

thank you. >> we'll get that message out, siamak.hese few may finally have been released, but will they be the last american hostages taken by tehran? christiane amanpour, cnn, london. >> for the first time since it began selling tickets more than ten years ago. >> three, two, one, release, release, release. >> virgin galactic spacecraft launched with paying customers on board. the pricey journey is coming up next on "cnn newsroom." stay with us. how can you sleep on such a firm setting? gab, mine is almost the same as yours. almost is just another word for not as good as mine. save 50% on the sleep number lilimited edition smart bed. plus, , 36 month financing on select smart beds. shop now only at sleep number. we planned well for retirement, but i wish we had more cash. you think those two have any idea? that they can sell their life insurance policy for cash? so they're basically sitting on a goldmine? i don't think they have a clue. that's crazy! well, not everyone knows coventry's helped thousands of people sell their policies

three of them, siamak namazi and two others have been held by iran for years. sources telling cnn that their full freedom is part of an elaborate millity national effort involving billions of dollars and potential prisoner swap. among those potential plans, giving tehran easier access to $6 billion in iranian funds currently held in south korea. a source familiar with the negotiations saying that there would still be strict limitations on how that money could be used. for their part, iran also says five iranian prisoners in the u.s. would be released as part of the deal. but the biden administration still needs to finalize some details in the coming weeks leaving plenty of room for something to go wrong. >> all we know now is that they are out under house arrest. what happens next is anyone's guess. >> reporter: national security council spokesperson called the move to house arrest an encouraging step but said that the biden administration will not rest until they are back in the u.s. calling ongoing negotiations delicate. siamak namazi is the longest held amer

take the case of siamak namazi, detained for nearly seven years.having a relationship with a hostile country, the united states. when his father went to the next year to try to get out of prison, he too was detained. a very elderly man. he was only released last year. that is one of the family waiting, hoping against hope that their loved ones will soon come home. they been expecting this to happen for some time, the deal was clinched almost this year and fell apart. 0ne clinched almost this year and fell apart. one of the prisoners, siamak namazi, did an extraordinary interview from prison with cnn so it has taken a long time and because the iranian �*s and the americans don't have automatic relations. they needed third parties. imilli! they needed third parties. will this be seen _ they needed third parties. will this be seen as _ they needed third parties. will this be seen as a diplomatic success for the biden administration. , �* administration. resident biden has made the _ administration. resident biden has made the bringing - administration

shuja khalilzadeh, siamak nemati, mohammad naderi saeed, mr.di shiri, who is playing tractor this season, can double the beauty of this match with his former team and have persepolis. always only to win, never to teach me that we always go to interview players to lose, because after 19:30 shams azar, qazvin , the host of this game, the first meeting between two teams in the history of the mes rafsanjan premier league, at home from 20:00, nasaji reception mazandaran, zob ahan and sepahan will also play in isfahan city from 21:00. in the first week, they are mentally and psychologically ready to defeat their rivals. they are ready for the most important game in their city. all the energy and focus of the team will go to the isfahan derby, and i hope it will be a good game and the fans who like this game i look to enjoy it and in the last on the second day of this week, sanat naft abadan, who lost in the first week, will face each other in ahvaz at 9:30 p.m., and given that last week , mehdi mustafa played like a mirage in the match between paris

the installation of ali siamak rahpik abbas kodkhodaei and mohammad hassan sadeghi moghadam as the members of the central election monitoring board of the 12th term of the islamic council were introduced. according to the law, the members of the central election monitoring board are 5 people, who are selected by the guardian council and introduced to the ministry of interior, according to article 99 of the constitution of the guardian council. he is in charge of the elections of the islamic council, the elections of the 12th term of the islamic council and the sixth term of the assembly of community leadership experts will be held on the 11th of esfand, and the road announced that the internet ticket sales infrastructure for the return of pilgrims is also being prepared, the coordination of the country's public transport fleet it was held at the barkat mehran terminal. i and all these big works are here . our effort is to bring no pilgrims to their destination with sample jazz and reasonable prices . be sure to review all the infrastructures that exist in the field of fleet movement and mo

mohammad reza madrasi yazdi, ayatollah abbas kaabi installed siamak rahpik abbas ali kodkhodaei and mohammadsan sadeghi moghadam were introduced as the members of the central election monitoring board of the 12th term of the islamic council

shuja khalilzadeh, siamak nemati, mohammad naderi, saeed aghaei and mehdi play for tractor . he can double the beauty of this match with his former team. i don't know anything else. not teaching that to interview the players, we always go to lose . to know that from 19:30 shams azar, qazvin air host this game, the first confrontation between two teams in the history of the mes rafsanjan premier league at the house of nasaji qaimshahr at 20:00 . it will double the attraction of this game because these two coaches had conflicts in the finals of the previous 2 seasons of the fa cup . we have a good and big team and very good players, a very good coach and a game that we will definitely experience big challenges in the game. ahan and sepahan will also hold shahrvard of isfahan from 21:00 in the first week it should be crowded and they are mentally and psychologically ready to defeat the most important game of their city, and energy and concentration will be provided for isfahan, and it should be a good game, and the fans who watch this game will enjoy it, and in the last match on

shuja khalilzadeh, siamak nemati , mohammad naderi saeed, mr. mehdi shiri, who are playing for tractors this season. with his former team, he can double the beauty of this match and have persepolis. well, probably, let's leave it. i always only want to win. they never taught me that we always go to interview players to lose because after 19:30 shams azar, qazvin. the host of this game is the first meeting between the two teams in the history of mes rafsanjan premier league in the home of nasaji qaimshahr at 20:00. the silent and inspiring confrontation between the former head coach of nasaji and seyed mehdi rahmati can double the attraction of this game because these two coaches have played in the finals of the cup two seasons ago. in the knockout stage, they had clashes with a good team and great players. we have a very good coach and a good game . we will definitely experience big challenges in the game . zob ahan and sepahan will also host shahrvard isfahan from 21:00 . i defeated their rivals in the first week. mentally prepared is the most

imprisoned in iran who are going to be released, 4 americans were highlighted in this exchange, including siamak namazi, emad sharqi, murad tahbaz, and a prisoner. he asked for his name they will be released confidentially. the us foreign minister has also emphasized that in this agreement, only iran's own assets will be returned to itself , and iran's own funds will be used and transferred to restricted accounts so that this money can be used for humanitarian purposes, as you know, according to the law is permissible. i want to talk to mr. mustafa sadeghi, an expert on international issues . what happened i emphasize now that these efforts have now come to an end and what are the meanings and messages of this story now. a very important gap between iran and the united states has occurred in the last few hours . the format of a population that was from one of the neighboring countries. in fact, where did this espionage work take place? the information that was published, the incident that has actually been reported and officially approved by both sides , is the exchange of money in exchange for

siamak namazi is the longest held american prisoner. 2015, and left behind in multiple deals between the u.s. and iran, that freed other americans. his brother telling cnn this in 2021 -- >> each time i saw light at the end of the tunnel, it has turned out to be a fast moving train, unfortunately. >> and siamak was desperate to get out that he courageously called cnn's christiane amanpour from behind bars earlier this year. >> desperate times call for desperate measures. >> kylie atwood, cnn, the state department. >> next hour japan and sweden go head to head in the second quarter final match of the women's world cup we will have a preview plus the highlights from the thrilling spain, netherlands match when we come back. stay with us. bor is hot! that's my husband... what? it's the inspire implant he got. hehe's not struggling with cpap anymore. alall that rest is working wonders for him. and for me. gotta go. naughty girl. hi sweetie! ah! (scream) here comes the choo-choo train of love! inspire. sleep apnea innovation. learn more and v

the confrontation between shoja khalilzadeh, siamak nemati, mohammad naderi, saeed aghaei and mehdi shiri, who are playing for tractor this season with his former team, can be the beauty of this. double the match. probably, i don't know. i always only want to win. he never taught me that we always go to interview the players to lose . because after 19:30 shams azar, qazvin , the host of the game, the fans of this game, the first meeting between the two teams in the history of the league. top mes rafsanjan at home at 20:00 welcome to nasaji qaimshahr, the quiet and inspiring confrontation of the former nasaji head coach against seyed mehdi rahmati can double the attraction of this game because these two coaches had conflicts in the finals of the 2 previous seasons of the fa cup with a good and big team and very good players and a very good coach. and we have the intelligence of the game that we will definitely experience great challenges in the game. in the first week of defeating their rivals , they are mentally and psychologically ready for the most important game in their city. the ener

council of allah seyyed mohammad reza modaresi yazdi, ayatollah abbas kabir, the installation of siamak rahpik abbas ali kodkhodaei and mohammad hassan sadeghi moghadam as members of the central board of supervision of the 12th islamic council elections became the members of the central election monitoring board must be 5 people who are selected by the guardian council and introduced to the ministry of interior. according to article 99 of the constitution, the guardian council is responsible for monitoring the elections of the islamic council. hello, hello, how are you? you have found the parliament. i have one or two characteristics of the previous parliamentary elections. yes , don't be tired. khayati. how are you doing ? did you find the desired candidate? yes , i chose because i was not satisfied before. now. that before registration of the school, if someone likes you, if you want it, if it is for a specialist, i invite you, park sa'i , 50% of the invitation is for us. let's invite people. what is your opinion on this? let him come to the people with all his strength and power. i w

the confrontation between shuja khalilzadeh , siamak nemati , mohammad naderi, saeed aghaei and mehdi shiri, who are playing for tractor this season, can double the beauty of this match with his former team. in the history of the premier league mes rafsanjan will host nasaji qaimshahr at 20:00. the silent and inspiring confrontation of the former nasaji head coach against seyed mehdi rahmati can double the attraction of this game because these two coaches clashed in the final two weeks ago in the elimination cup without zob ahan and sepahan from 21:00. shahrvard is held in isfahan, two teams beat their rivals in the first week, they are mentally and physically ready for the most important game of their city. in the last match of the second day of this week , steel and sanat naft of abadan, who lost in the first week, will face each other in ahvaz, mahdiar. mustafa of the organization's radio and television news agency i would like to thank you for your cooperation, dear representatives of the iranian football league. good night. hello, good night. tonight, we will start with the forec

in this exchange, four americans , including siamak namazi, emad sharqi, murad tahbaz , another prisoner, who asked to remain anonymous, will be released , the us secretary of state emphasized. has been placed in this agreement is only for iran's own assets to return to itself, iran's own funds will be used and transferred to limited accounts so that this money can be used for humanitarian purposes , as you know, this is allowed according to the law . i want to talk to mr. mustafa about this. sadeghi, an expert on international issues, hello, i would like to inform you and all the compatriots of the network that the efforts to free the foreign exchange resources of iran that were seized illegally , what happened? what are the meanings and messages of this story now? there is a very important gap between iran and the united states. in the last few hours, you also said that mr. tahbaz is an oriental symbol who was not taken away. it seems that there is a woman who was in the form of one of the neighboring countries. the proceeds of that spy work was done. the information that was published

council, ayatollah seyed mohammad reza modaresi yazdi and ayatollah abbas kabir, the installation of siamakpik abbas ali kadkhodaei and mohammad hassan sadeghi moghadam as members of the central board. supervision of the elections of the 12th term of the islamic council were introduced. the members of the central election supervision committee must be 5 people who are selected by the guardian council and introduced to the ministry of interior. article 99 of the constitution of the guardian council is responsible for supervising the elections of the islamic council. the twelfth session of the islamic council will be held on friday, march 11. hello, how are you? did you find it? why did i find one or two election numbers of the previous session of the parliament ? did you find it? yes, i found it. i chose it because i was not satisfied before. now before enrolling in the school, someone likes you, if you are interested , if it is for specialists , i invite you, park sa'i, 50% of our invitations, let's invite people. do you think it is suitable for this job? let him have the strength and abili

yazdi seminary ayat allah abbas kaabi installed siamak, pathfinder abbas ali kadkhodaei and mohammad hassan sadeghi moghadam were introduced as members of the central election monitoring board of the 12th term of the islamic council. according to the law, the members of the central election monitoring board are 5 people who are selected by the guardian council and introduced to the ministry of interior. according to article 99 of the constitution, the guardian council is responsible for supervising the elections of the islamic council . it is closed in tehran, the sunset is at 19:00, the maghrib call to prayer is at 19:00 and 19:00 , and at midnight it will be 23:22 . and good time to you, dear and respected viewers, welcome to today's economy, the requirement to transfer the accounts of the devices from commercial banks to the central bank through the treasury and focus on the treasury accounts in the various development and budget laws of the country came last month in the we put an agenda to this issue seriously let's pay attention to the several follow-up programs of the legal re

the brother of businessman siamak namazi, imprisoned in 2015, today called the past eight years of imprisonmentricans whose names are withheld will also be released. the breakthrough comes amid tension. earlier this summer the u.s. sent additional warships and marines to the gulf after iran attempted to seize two oil tankers. today the white house declined to detail the deal, citing negotiations as both delicate and ongoing. in exchange iran will be able to access $6 billion in a restricted account in south korea. those funds will be transferred to qatar. once there iran will be able to use those funds for purchases permitted under u.s. sanctions. now, the white house said this is not ransom and no u.s. taxpayer dollars are involve. but in the meantime iran claims that the u.s. will also release and pardon five iranian prisoners. as of tonight, major, the u.s. says no one in u.s. custody has been released. >> with the context and the details margaret brennan, stu. >>> breaking tonight, a grand jury in new york city has indicted a 17-year-old suspect on a hate crime charge after a brutal confron

three of the americans, siamak namazi, held since 2015, morad tahbaz, and emad shargi are accused of espionage, which they vehemently deny. the fourth and fifth americans want to remain anonymous. all five now under house arrest in iran, until the terms of the agreement between iran and the u.s. is finalized. that deal calls for the release of $6 billion in oil revenue from south korea that had been tied up by u.s. sanctions. u.s. officials saying the money must be used for humanitarian reasons. >> my belief is that this is the beginning of the end of their nightmare. and the nightmare that their families have experienced. >> reporter: it will likely take at least four or five weeks for that money to come through, and the prisoners hopefully brought back to the u.s. the white house saying tonight the negotiations remain delicate. linsey? >> linsey: martha, thank you. >>> and from south america tonight, a presidential candidate in ecuador assassinated less than two weeks before the election. fernando, who campaigned on rooting out corruption, was shot as he left this rally in the cap

held the longest, siamak namazi, a business consultant arrested in 2015. morad tahbaz, an environmentalist, was imprisoned in 2018 and his wife not permitted to leave iran. tell us about having your parents there and not being able to have them come home? >> it's been an nightmare you can't imagine. >> emad shargi was also arrested in 2018. his daughters told us last year the wait was agonizing, especially when a fire broke out in the prison. >> we thought he was dead. we didn't get to speak to him for two days. >> reporter: moving the $6 billion for iran's use could take weeks. "washington post" journalist jason rezaian, jailed in tehran for almost two years, knows what they're feeling. >> that kind of firsrst taste of freedom, your shouldlders start to loosen up just a little bit. but they don't fully relax until you're out of iranian airspace. >> reporter: a source familiar said separate talks could lead to an informal deal to freeze iran's nuclear program, which official sources say is only weeks away from having enough fuel for a weapon. lester? >> an

the lure of gnomic brother of siamak namazi, imprisoned in 2015, today called the past eigf imprisonmentwhose names are withheld, will also be released. the breakthrough comes amid tension. earlier this summer, the u.s. sent additional warships and marines to the gulf after iran attempted to seize two oil tankers peered today, the white house declined to detail the deal, citing negotiations as both delicate and ongoing. in exchange, iran will be able to access $6 billion in a restricted account in south korea. those funds will be transferred to qatar. once there, iran will be able to use those funds for purchases permitted under u.s. sanctions. now, the white house said this is not ransom and no u.s. taxpayer dollars are involved, but in the meantime, iran claims that the u.s. will also release and pardon five iranian prisoners. as of tonight, major, the u.s. says no one in u.s. custody has been released. >> major: within the context and the details. margaret brennan, thank you. breaking to make him a grand jury in new york city has indicted a 17-year-old suspect on a hate crime charge.

the american prisoners involved in the agreement include siamak namazi, who has been held in iran for, a washington, dc resident, and morad tahbaz, a us and uk national. two others wish to remain anonymous. earlier my colleague caitriona perry spoke to former us national security advisor john bolton on the developments in iran shortly after this news broke. thanks forjoining us, ambassador. if they can start by getting your reaction to a story that has just been breaking today, the news that five american prisoners in iran have been moved from prison to house arrest. the way houses negotiations for their eventual full release are ongoing and delicate at this time are not all of their identities have been released. but those that we do know, at least some of them would have been still in detention while you are in the white house the national security advisor. can you talk was a little bit about what might have been going on behind the scenes here.— the scenes here. we're obviously _ the scenes here. we're obviously happy - the scenes here. we're obviously happy to - the scenes here. w

the group — who also have iranian passports — include siamak namazi, a businessman arrested in october nationality, was arrested in january 2018 and sentenced to 10 years for alleged "conspiring with america." the five had been held in tehran's evin prison, though the us says they were all wrongfully detained. the us secretary of state, anthony blinken, didn't go into specifics about the deal — but here's some of what he had to say. this is a positive step, but i don't want to get ahead of its conclusion because there is more work to be done to actually bring them home. my belief is this is the beginning of the end of their nightmare, and the nightmare their families have experienced. in any event, any respect, iran will not be receiving any sanctions relief, and in any instance where we would engage in such efforts to bring americans home from iran, iran's own funds would be used. and transferred to restricted accounts such that the money can only be used for humanitarian purposes which, as you know, is permitted under our sanctions. some republicans have criticised president biden ov

siamak namazi is the longest serving american prisoner in iran. he has been held since 2015.hat really brave move a few months ago speaking to christiane amanpour from inside evan prison making that appeal to president biden to get him out of there. very courageous major risk he took by speaking to cnn. and he said these are desperate times that call to desperate measures. and the other two held by iran since 02018. this was a complex negotiation that involved third country parties. you've got switzerland, qatar as well as iraq and uae also involved in some way. and it will involve the unfreezing of about $6 billion of iranian funds. in south korean accounts that the iranians now will have more access to and also the release of five iranian prisoners frommist detention. we don't know when this will happen. this was a first step in a very complex negotiation. and it is not over until these americans are on a flight and out of iran. >> as secretary blinken said, essentially the beginning of the end. a lot more to watch here. jomana karedsheh, thank you. >>> let's turn to india

. >>> siamak namazi, emad shargi, morad tahbaz, a fourth american not identified, they were moved fromthe fifth american who has not been publicly identified was under house arrest. we're joined now by someone who knows what it is like to be wrongfully detained at that very prison. jason rezaian, who is tehran bureau chief when he was detained now a columnist for the "washington post," he was held there for a year and a half between 2014 and 2016. jason, thank you so much for joining us. what is your reaction to this news? >> well, i'm cautiously optimistic, brianna. this is a day these families have been waiting for for a very long time, but as you und indic in the introduction there's still a long way to go. any day free from the hell hole is a good thing. but, you know, they are far from completely free. they won't be free until they've left iranian air space. i know all too well from my own experience that, you know, the last how the last days, you know, there can be complications in these cases. i'm hopeful. at the same time, the tension and the anxiety for these five americans an

siamak namazi, emad shargi and morad tahbaz and another ta american who did not want to be identifiedthe notorious evin prison in tehran and on house arrest along with a fifth american. while all still will be under guard, this marks a big move and is the first indication in years of any progress in negotiations for their release. in exchange for their return we're learning the united states will release some $6 billion of iranian funds that have been locked up over sanctions in south korea. also under the terms of the agreement iran would only be able to use the money for humanitarian purchases like food and medicines. joining us right now is "washington post" global opinions writer jason razion who was imprisoned for 544 days, finally released in 2016. thank you for coming back in. >> thanks for having me. >> this is a step. still a long road, though, from getting them home. what could these final weeks, days and final hours look like? how many complications could there be? >> well, kate, i can tell you that in the final days and hours of my detention, in an iranian prison, there we

three of the released prisoners are siamak, and joining me now are two family members, nina shargi, andhen you heard that they were out of prison, tell me about that. >> i mean, i think that you can never prepare for these moments. this was a time that often felt very far out of reach so you're flooded with every emotion and being able to see that first video call, i just was ecstatic and a sense of relief and also fear of what happens next. we don't know what happens next and it's nice to see my dad on the other side of the phone. >> how did he look to you? >> i think, you know, at the end of the day he was a dad just smiling and saying hello to his daughter and reassuring me he's there. he's okay. he's safe. i think he had a lot of hope in his eyes and understandably, a lot of fear. this is a big step, but they're not home yet. they're not free yet. they're still in custody and we don't know what's going to happen next. we have to be optimistically hopeful and wait until we can hug them on u.s. soil. >> it's been years for both of you, your loved ones in 2018, we're talking a long tim

. >> siamak namazi. >> the scuttlebutt which is not reliable had potential charges coming as early asek. to the extent there are additional witnesses coming in to testify that would suggest the timeline is pushed back even more, maybe a week, maybe more than a week. it's hard to say. that means the system is working the way it's supposed to because grand juries are conducted in secret and these witnesses were not supposed to know when they're coming in, it's only through watching the courthouse closely or watching the locations closely or putting our ear to the ground and figuring out that there's a possibility an indictment may come this week. but it equally could come next week if witnesses are still testifying. >> the doj on friday announced attorney general merrick garland announced they would be appointing a special counsel in the hunter biden case. later in the show we will talk about the political ramifications of that with anna palmer of punchbowl news, but just in terms of legal matters, if this has happened, does this increase the likelihood that hunter biden is going to tri

i'm happy to see siamak namazi is released.ricans and iranians that the u.s. government was trying to get a deal with such a hostage taker, such a barbaric regime. >> a regime that has literally hundreds and hundreds of its own people in prison as political prisoners and a whole lot more. thank you. >> thank you so much for having me. >> thank you for being with us this morning. >>> and now to an update on the shocking assassination of a presidential candidate in ecuador. eke dorn authorities arrested six colombian men yesterday for the fatal shooting of politician fernando villavicencio. one of the attackers was previously killed in gunfire with police. villavicencio was one of the most outspoken candidates against the drug cartels. ecuador's interior ministers say the suspects were connected to organized crime. the fbi has just recently sent a team into ecuador, a petition of the current ecuadorian president to help in the investigation. >>> up next, we'll take a turn, a 600 pound butter cow and deep fried corn dogs. yes, it

citizens are siamak namazi, morad tahbaz, emad shargi, and two americans who wish to remain unnamed at. the associated press reports iran's move is part of an agreement in which billions of dollars frozen in south korea will be released to iran. late today, secretary of state antony blinken was asked about this. >> my belief is that this is the beginning of the end of their night air. iran will not be receiving any sanctions relief. and in any instance where we would engage in such efforts to bring americans home from iran . iran's owns funds would be used and transferred to restricted accounts such that the moneys can only be used for humanitarian purposes, which, as you know, is permitted under our sanctions. amna: the chief iranian negotiator also wrote on the x platform, formerly known as twitter, that iranian prisoners jailed in the united states would be returned. here with me now is washington post columnist jason rezaian, whose own grueling detention by the iranian government ended in january, 2016. welcome back. i want to begin briefly with your reaction because you spent hund