HELLO AND WELCOME TO OUR COMPANY.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.

>> I SPENT MONTHS CAGED.

I SPENT MONTHS CAGED IN A SOLITARY CELL.

>> AFTER SEVEN YEARS HE AND THE OTHER AMERICAN PRISONERS ARE OUT OF TEHERAN'S NOTORIOUS PRISON BUT NOT TOTALLY FREE JUST YET.

WE GET ALL THE LATEST AHEAD.

AND BRING YOU THE HEARTFELT PLEA FROM THE MAN WITH CALLED THIS PROGRAM IN MARCH PLEADING FOR HIS RELEASE.

PLUS .

.

.

>> THE CLIMATE WAS AND IS VERY VICIOUS.

>> IS JOURNALISM DEAD IN INDIA.

ON THE PRESS FREEDOM CRISIS IN THE WORLD'S LARGEST DEMOCRACY.

>> THE COMPANY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CANDACE KING WEIR.

JIM ATWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS, MARK J BLESHNER, CHARLES ROSENBLUM, COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBURG.

RETRY AT MUTUAL OF AMERICA WE BELIEVE TAKING CARE OF TOMORROW CAN HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF TODAY.

MUTUAL AMERICA FINANCIAL GROUP, RETIREMENT SERVICES AND INVESTMENTS.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THESE FUNDERS AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

WE BEGIN WITH A HUGE BREAK IN A STORY THAT WE HAVE BEEN COVERING FOR YEARS, A GROUP OF AMERICANS IMPRISONED IN IRAN HAVE JUST BEEN ARE LEASED FROM TEHERAN'S PRISON, INCLUDING THE LONGEST HELD 51-YEAR-OLD, WHOSE BEEN LANGUISHING THERE FOR MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS.

ACCORDING TO TO HIS LAWYER THEY HAVE MOVED FROM HOUSE ARREST.

THE UNITED STATES HAS NO DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH IRAN AND THE PERSIAN GULF WAS ALSO INVOLVED?

FACILITATING THIS RELEASE.

AFTER BEING LEFT BEHIND THIS THEE PREVIOUS PRISONER SWAPS HE WENT TO EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS ON THIS SHOW FIVE MONTHS, MAKING A PUBLIC APPEAL FOR HIS RELEASE AND THAT OF HIS FELLOW IRANIAN AMERICANS.

HE'S HOW IT ALL UNFOLDED.

>> IT'S A HEARTFELT PLEA HEARD AROUND THE WORLD.

>> HONESTLY THE OTHER HOSTAGES AND I DESPERATELY NEED PRESIDENT BIDEN TO FINALLY HEAR US OUT, TO FINALLY 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 AM CLEARLY NERVOUS.

>> HE 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 HOSS HOSS TILE STATE.

HE ALWAYS DENIED THE CHARGE AND WASHINGTON ACCUSED OF IRAN OF WRONGFULLY DETAINING HIM.

THIS WAS THE DESPERATE APPEAL HE MADE TO US FROM NOTICE THE PRISON IN OUR UNPRECEDENTED CONVERSATION.

>> I THINK THE VERY FACT THAT I'VE EASY CHOSEN TO TAKE THIS RISK FROM THE PRISON IT SHOULD TELL YOU HOW DIRE MY SITUATION HAS BECOME BY THIS POINT.

I SPEND MONTHS CAGED.

I SPENT MONTHS CAGED IN A SOLITARY CELL THAT WAS THE SIZE OF A CLOSET, SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR, BEING FED LIKE A DOG UNDER THE DOOR.

>> HIS ELDERLY FATHER WHO'S NOW 86 WAS LURED TO IRAN IN 2016 WITH THE PROMISE OF SEEING HIS SON.

INSTEAD HE TOO WAS ARRESTED, IN PRISON FOR TWO YEARS AND BARRED INTEREST LEAVING THE COUNTRY.

HE WAS FINALLY ALLOWED OUT LAST ONCOMING OCTOBER TO SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT ABROAD.

HE'S NEVER STOPPED PUBLICLY CAMPAIGNING FOR HIS SON'S RELEASE.

>> I WILL NEVER TRULY BE FREE UNTIL HE IS BEHIND ME.

I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF HIS COURAGE BUT I DON'T WANT HIM TO HAVE TO BE BRAVE ANYMORE.

I WANT HIM TO BE SAFE, I WANT HIM TO BE FREE TO LIVE THE LIFE HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIVING FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.

I WANT HIM HOBBY TOME.

THEY SAY THEY NEVER SO MUCH AS JAYWALKED AND THEY WERE HELD ONLY AS AMERICANSS TO BE TRADED ON THE GEOPOLITICAL MARKET.

BEFORE THEIR RELEASE THEIR FAMILIES TRIED TO RALLY SUPPORT.

>> I KNOW THAT THEY ARE DESPERATE, THAT THEY ARE SCARED AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE BEEN FORGOTTEN.

THEY HAVE BEEN DETERMINED OFFICIALLY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, BY OUR SECRETARY OF STATE AS HAVING BEEN TAKEN, DETAINED BY THE IRANIANS FOR ONE REASON AND THAT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE AMERICAN AMERICANS.

MY FATHER IS AN AMAZING PERSON.

HE IS SO CALM, SO KIND, SO GENEROUS, SO NOBLE, AND I THINK JUST HOW MY SIBLINGS AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE THE CARRY OURSELVES THROUGH THIS NIGHTMARE IS A TESTAMENT TO HIM AND MY MOTHER AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE INSTILLED IN US IN WHAT W.H.O.

THEY ARE.

>> FORMERN.

GOVERNOR WHO ADVOCATES FOR THE FAMILIES PUTS IT BLUNTLY.

>> THIS HAS HAPPENED IN RUSSIA, VENEZUELA, IRAN, NORTH KOREA.

IT'S A PATTERN, A NEW HOSTAGE DIPLOMACY THAT WE HAVE TO START CONFRONTING.

>> JUST DO WHAT'S NECESSARY TO END THIS NIGHTMARE AND BRING US HOME.

THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL GET THAT MESSAGE OUT I.

>> THESE FEW MAY HAVE BEEN RELEASED BUT THERE THEN THE LAST AMERICAN HOSTAGES TAKEN BY TEHERAN?

NOW, TODAY IS A LONG TIME COMING FOR THE FAMILY AND HIS LAWYER WHO WORKED DOGGEDLY FOR HIS RELEASE, CONSTANTSLY PURPOSING IT FOREFRONT OF THE U.S.

AGENDA.

JARED, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

JUST DESCRIBE YOUR FEELINGS RIGHT NOW, YOUR HOPES.

ARE THEY TEMPERED?

TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW.

>> LOOK, I MEAN THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD, THAT THE AMERICAN HOSTAGES HAVE BEEN RELEASED TO A HOUSE ARREST.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY ON EXCITING MOMENT.

I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE FAMILY ON THEIR BEHALF FOR MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS MYSELF AND HERE'S BEEN IN PRISON FOR ALMOST EIGHT YEARS.

AT THE SAME TIME WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.

WE OBVIOUSLY HOPE AND PRAY THAT IT WILL LEAD TO A DEAL TO HAVE THEM LEAVE IRAN.

BUT ALL WE KNOW NOW TODAY WITH ANY ASSURANCES ARE THAT THEY'RE OUT UNDER HOUSE ARREST AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS ANYONE'S GUESS BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN MANY, MANY PRIOR ATTEMPTS TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF THE AMERICANS DETAINED IN IRAN.

HE HAS BEEN LEFT BEHIND THREE TIME, ONCE BY PERHAPS PRESIDENT OBAMA AND TWO TIMES BY PRESIDENT TRUMP, SO BEING RELEASED TO HOUSE ARREST IS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE SNEED TO REMAIN VIGILANT AND WE SNEED TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT AGREEMENT TO NAME THESE FOUR AMERICANS TO COME HOME.

>> AND THERE IS A 50 AND WE DON'T KNOW THE IDENTITY OF THAT PERSON, WHEN THEY WERE TAPE BUT THAT PERSON WE ARE TOLD IS ALSO UNDER HOUSE ARREST AND THE FOURTH WHOSE NAME WE ALSO DON'T KNOW BUT WAS HELD FOR MUCH LESS TIME.

SO LET ME ASK YOU BECAUSE WE DID THIS INCREDIBLE CONVERSATION.

OBVIOUSLY YOU KNEW ABOUT IT.

YOU'RE HIS LAWYER AND HE WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO CALL OUT OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST MOST NOTORIOUS PRISONS AND IN TALKING ABOUT DESPERATE MEASURES.

HOW DID THOSE SEVEN NEARLY EIGHT YEARS GO FOR HIM?

>> IT'S BEEN ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL.

HE SPENT THE FIRST TWO YEARS BEING DETAINED IN THE TOUGHEST PART OF THE PRISON BY THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION AND GUARD CORPS, SUBJECTED TO VERY TERRIBLE CONDITIONS OF DETENTION AND SUBJECTED TO A RANGE OF OTHER MISTREATMENT, AND YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY BOTH HE AND HIS FATHER WHO WAS DETAINED A SHORT TIME AFTER HIM WERE CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN JAIL FOR COLLABORATING WITH A HOSTILE STATE WITH REFERENCE TO THE UNITED STATES.

BOTH OF THEM ARE OBVIOUSLY INNOCENT TO HAVE CRIMES IN WHICH THEY WERE TRIED AND CONVICTED, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK RIGHT NOW I DO WANT TO FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE MOMENT AND MY GRATITUDE THAT THE UNITE AND IRAN WERE ABLE TO COME TO THIS FIST STEP BUT OF COURSE THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO CAN WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

I MYSELF THINK WHILE THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AROUND WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND A LOT OF SPECULATION ABOUT WHAT IT MOONS IF THERE'S ONE THING I LEARNED ABOUT WORKING WITH THE FAMILY OVER THE LAST SEVEN PLUS YEARS IS THAT IT ISN'T OVER UNTIL IT'S OVER AND WE'RE FAR FROM THE FINISH LINE.

>> WE HEAR THAT AND WE KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLICATING FACTORS AND WE DON'T NOW HOW IT'S GOING TO END UP BUT INTERESTINGLY I WONDER WHAT YOU BE TELL US ABOUT HOW IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES CAME TO THIS MOMENT.

WE HEARD REPORTED THE IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YESTERDAY OR THE DAY BEFORE TALKED ABOUT TO THE PRESS ABOUT THIS SITUATION AND SAID WE'RE ALWAYS READY TO ALASKA BASED ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS CAN AND THIS WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH AMERICA THROUGH THIRD PARTIES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

IS THERE ANYTHING TUCK TELL US ABOUT THE CONTACTS, HOW THEY MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED?

>> YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE BEEN UPDATED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION I CAN'T SHARE ON THE AIR.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF FAMILY OF AMERICAN HOSTAGES OR NOW ONE HOSTAGE, IT'S BEEN AN INFURIATING JOURNEY BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THAT IN ORDER TO GET THE U.S. AND RED, WHITE AND BLUE TO UNITED STATES IT'S IRAN TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT, BEYOND THAT YOU IN IS SENSE NEAT TO GET BOTH GOVERNMENTS TO COME TO THE TABLE AT THE SAME TIME AND THERE'S BEEN THIS HORRIBLE DANCE WHERE THE U.S. IS COMING TO THE TABLE AND WANTS TO TALK BUT THEN THE IRANIANS DON'T WANT TO TALK, SO GET THEM TO COME TO THE TABLE AT THE SAME TIME AND BE PREPARED TO MAKE A MOVE LIKE THIS HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING.

AGAIN THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP BUT WE'RE NOT NOT THERE AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT WE'VE AT LEAST GOTTEN TO THIS DAY WHICH IS FURTHER THAN WE'VE GOTTEN BEFORE AND WE'RE HOPING THAT TODAY WILL ULTIMATELY YIELD THE RETURN OF THE FIVE AMERICANS TO THE UNITED STATES.

>> AND HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO THEM?

DO YOU KNOW HOW THEY ARE?

AND WHAT IS THE CONDITIONS?

WE HAVE SAID HOUSE ARREST UNDER THE IRANIAN GUARD AND STILL UNDER THE IRANIAN AUTHORITY.

ARE THEY BEING MONITORED?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?

>> WE KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN TRANSFERRED FROM THE PRISON TO A HOTEL IN TEHERAN WHERE THEY'RE UNDER GUARD, SO THEY'LL -- EACH OF THEM WILL HAVE THEIR OPEN OWN ROOMS AND THEY HAVE ANKLE MONITORS ON AND THERE WILL BE RESTRICTIONS OBVIOUSLY ON THEIR MOVEMENT.

THEY WILL BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AND THEIR FANS.

I DO HAVE CONFIRMATION THAT THEY ARE THERE BUT AT THIS STAGE, THEY HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND WE'RE WAITING A FINAL CONFIRMATION BY TALKING TO THEM DIRECTLY AND UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, I CAN'T SPEAKS TO HOW THEY'RE DOING UNTIL THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE SWISS AMBASSADOR WHO IS REPRESENTING THE U.S.

INTERESTS IN IRAN.

I DO HOPE THAT WILL HAPPEN IN SHORT SHORT ORDER AND WE'RE KNOB WHAT WILL HAPPEN FROM HERE.

>> JARED, THANK YOU SO MUCH INDEED AND WE'LL OBVIOUSLY KEEP TRACK THING STORY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS ON BEHALF OF YOUR CLIENT AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE.

THANK YOU.

>> WELL, THANKS FOR ALL THE FOCUS AND ATTENTION.

>> SO LET'S GO THE NOW TO THE U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT CARLY ATWOOD.

WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT AND WE HAVE A STATEMENT FROM THE IRANIAN MISSION TO THE UNITED NATION.

THEY'RE SAYING AS PART OF A HUMANITARIAN COOPERATION AGREEMENT MEDIATED BY A THIRD PARTY GOVERNMENT IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE AGREED TOE RELEASE AND PARDON FIVE PRISONERS.

THE TRANSFER OF THESE PRISONERS OUT OF PRISON TODAY MASHES A SIGNIFICANT INITIAL STEP IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.

SO WHAT I'M READING BETWEEN THE LINES THERE IS THAT THESE AMERICANS ARE RELEASED UNDER HOUSE ARREST, THERE IS NO RECIPROCATION TODAY AND ACCORDING TO THE IRANIAN STATEMENT IT APPEARS THAT AT SOME POINT THERE WILL BE FIVE IRANIANS ALSO EXCHANGED AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES POTENTIALLY DEALING WITH MONEY ACCORDING TO SEPARATE SOURCES WHAT WHO WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO BEFORE.

>> YEAH THAT'S HUGELY SIGNIFICANT THAT THE IRANIANS ARE NOW SAYING WHAT THEIR EXPECTATION IS NORTH AMERICAN OF THE STEPS THE UNITED STATES HAS TO STAKE TO GET THE AMERICANS OFF IRAN.

WE KNOW THE IRANIANS WEREN'T JUST GOING TO RELEASE THEM FOR NOTHING SO ACCORDING TO WHAT WE ARE NOW HEARING FROM THE IRANIANS THEY DO EXPECT THAT THERE ARE IRANIANS IN U.S. PRISON WHO ARE GOING TO BE RELEASED.

THEY'RE NOT GIVING US A DATE YET FOR THAT BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL WATCH.

AND AS YOU SAID AT ISSUE THAT OF COURSE WE'LL BE WATCHING CLOSELY ARE THE IRANIAN FUNDS THAT ARE IN RESTRICTED ACCOUNT IN SOUTH KOREA RIGHT NOW.

THERE HAVE BEEN AVERAGES WITH THE IRANIANS GETTING ACCESS TO THOSE FUNDS BECAUSE THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THEY CAN USE THEM FOR.

THERE ARE CHALLENGES WITH CONVERTING SOUTH KOREAN CURRENCY INTO THE CURRENCY NEEDED TOE BUY HUMANITARIAN GOODS, SO THAT WILL BE ANOTHER KIND OF TOPIC THAT WE'LL BE WATCHING.

WE ALSO GOT A STATEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SPOKESPERSON, THAT IS THE WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE.

I'M NOT SURE IF YOUR SHOW HAS THAT STATEMENT TO PULL UP YET BUT THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT IRAN HAS RELEASED FROM PRISON FIVE AMERICANS.

THE NUMBER BEING FIVE, THAT'S SIGNIFICANT WHO WERE UNJUSTLY DETAINED AND HAS PLACED THEM ON HOUSE ARREST.

SHE CALLS THIS AN ENCOURAGING STEP.

SAYS THESE U.S. CITIZENS, THE THREE THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND TWO OTHER AMERICANS WHO WISH TO REMAIN PRIVATEER SHOULD QUOTE NEVER BEEN DETAINED IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THEY SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THEIR CONDITIONS CLOSELY AND THEY WON'T REST UNTIL THEY ARE BACK HOME IN THE UNITED STATES.

UNTIL THAT TIME NEGOTIATIONS FOR THEIR EVENTUAL RELEASE REMAIN ONGOING AND ARE DELICATE.

SO THEREFORE WE HAVE LITTLE TO SAY IN TERMS OF DETAILS TO PROVIDE.

AND THAT'S THE KEY HERE.

THE SITUATION IS STILL INCREDIBLY DELICATE BUT THE FACT THAT THERE WERE FIVE AMERICANS WHO WERE IN PRISON IN IRAN AND ARE NOW UNDER HOUSE ARREST IS A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT.

>> INDEED AND EXCELLENT IS THAT YOU HAVE MANAGED TO GET THE U.S.

CONFIRMATION FOR WHAT WE GOT FROM IRAN ITSELF.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND LET'S GO NOW TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ALL TOO WELL WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE LOCKED UP IN IRAN, THAT'S JASON, WRITER FOR THE "WASHINGTON POST."

HE SPENT 18 MONTHS IN AN IRANIAN PRISON BEFORE BEING RELEASED IN 2016 AND ALSO JOINING US IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE IRAN PROJECT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP.

JASON THIS IS SUCH A HUMAN MOMENT AND I CAN JUST IMAGINE THAT YOU ARE EMPATHIZING AND KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW, SO JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING THROUGH THEIR HEAD AS THEY WERE CALLED INTO THE PRISON OFFICE AND THEN TOLD TO PICK UP THEIR THINGS AND THEY WERE ABLE TO LEAVE?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I THINK THERE IS A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE IT STARTS TO SET IN THAT THIS COULD ALL ACTUALLY BE REAL AND THAT FREEDOM IS ONE MASSIVE STEP CLOSER.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT WHEN I TALK ABOUT MY IMPRISONMENT OF 544 DAYS, IT'S THAT LAST DAY THAT WAS THE MOST GRUELING S. AND LARGE PART BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MANY POSSIBILITIES THAT IT COULD ALL FALL APART, AND WE KNOW THAT THIS SITUATION IS GOING TO TAKE LONGER TO COMPLETE FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT KYLIE REPORTED SO I THINK THE ANXIETY, THE TENSION WILL BE UP BUT THIS IS I THINK THE FIRST TIME THAT THESE AMERICANS AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN BE HOPEFUL.

I'VE BEEN ON YOUR SHOW WITH SEVERAL OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS MANY MONTHS AGO, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE THE DAY I GOT OUT OF PRISON SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS AGO AND HERE'S BEEN THERE ALL THIS TIME.

SO IT'S A HOPEFUL DAY BUT WE HAVE TO REMAIN VIGILANT.

>> I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU JASON BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK AND HE WAS THERE WHEN IF YOU WERE FREED.

BUT ALLY WHAT IS YOUR IMMEDIATE REACTION TO THIS AND I WILL SAY WE HAVE HAD REACTION FROM THE SISTER OF THE U.S. CITIZEN.

I'M AWARE OF REPORT THAT THEY ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO HOUSE ARREST.

MY FAMILY HAS FAVORITE THIS THE WORK THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS UNDERTAKEN TO BRING OUR FAMILIES HOME AND HOPE TO RECEIVE THAT NEWS SOON.

UNTIL THAT POINT WE DO NOT THINK IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO THE COMMENT FURTHER.

IN ORDER THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE PLANE TO TAKEN OFF OUT OF IRANIAN AIR PACE, ALLY TELL US WHAT YOU THINK THIS AND.

>> WELL THIS IS A DEAL THAT HAS BEENING LONG OVERDUE.

THE OUTLINES OF THIS DEAL HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS AND AS JARED SAID WITH ALL THE UPS AND DOWNS OF IRANIAN U.S. RELATIONS HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY DELAYED.

IN FACT IN MARCH WE WERE CLOSE TO THE FINISH LINE BUT BECAUSE OF A MILITARY CONFRONTATION BETWEEN IRANIAN BACKED ALLIES IN SYRIA THAT RESULTED IN THE FIRST AMERICAN FATALITY UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN, TALKS WERE DERAILED AND THERE'S ALWAYS PLENTY OF BLACK SWAN THAT COULD EMERGE IN U.S. IRAN RELATIONS AND THIS IS WHY I THINK THE FAMILIES ARE RIGHT TO BE CAR ACCIDENTLY ONLY MYSTIC BECAUSE THE NEXT FEW WEEK ARE PRETTY SENSITIVE AND THERE'S ALWAYS THE FEAR OF HAVING AN ARGOT MOMENT BEFORE THE DETAINEES CAN LEAVE.

>> EXACTLY AND BEFORE I GO BACK TO JASON, IS THIS PART OF FOR INSTANCE TRYING TO GET ANOTHER NUCLEAR DEAL?

OR IS IT SEPARATE?

DOES IT MEAN THAT TENSIONS BETWEEN IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES DEESCALATE UNTIL AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION?

>> WELL WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN A DEGREE OF DEESCALATION BETWEEN THE TO SIDES.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO ATTACKS ON U.S.

FORCES SINCE MARCH AND WE HAVE SEEN IRAN INCREASE THE COOPERATION.

THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF ISSUE TEEN THE TWO SIDES AND THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF THIS DETAINEE AGREEMENT COMING IN PARALLEL TO AN UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TO SIDES, WHICH BASICALLY AMOUNTS TO RESTRAINT FOR RESTRAINT FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF WHEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS FOCUSED ON REELECTION AND THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND THE IRANIANS ARE TRYING TO STABILIZE THEIR INTERNAL SWAYING.

SO THESE THINGS ARE MOVING FORWARD IN PARALLEL BUT IT'S A FRAGILE SITUATION.

>> AND JASON, THEY ALL SAY ALWAYS AND YOU SAID TOO, THAT THEY WOULD JUST TAKE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE AMERICAN IN ORDER TO BE TRADED AND THERE ARE WE KNOW SEPARATELY THESE FUNDS IN ASSOCIATION, WHICH REACHED THIRD PARTIES AND THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ATTEMPT TO UNRAVEL THAT.

BUT I MEAN, IS THIS THE LAST WE'RE GOING TO SEE OF THIS KIND OF THING?

>> I WOULD DOUBT IT AND THAT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE BUT THE REALITY IS THERE'S NOT A GOOD DETER RESIDENCE MECHANISM IN PLACE NEITHER HERE IN THE UNITED STATES OR AMONG OUR ALLIES AND THAT'S THE REASON THAT COUNTRIES LIKE IRAN, CHINA, RUSSIA, VENEZUELA AND A HANDFUL OF OTHERS ARE DOING THIS MORE AND MORE.

SO I THINK UNTIL THAT TIME WE WILL SEE AMERICANS AND CITIZENS BEING PICKED UP AND HELD ON SPURIOUS CHARGES THAT ARE MEET COMPLETELY UNFUNDED.

I'M NOT GOING TO JUDGE WHETHER THAT'S A GOOD OR BAD WAY TO GET IT DONE BUT IT'S A VERY BUY THEIR SITUATION.

YOU'RE MAKING A CHOICE BETWEEN THE FREEDOM OF YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS OR LEAVING THEM BEHIND AND I PERSONALLY AS THE RECIPIENT OF MANY HOURS OF GOVERNMENT WORK HERB HOURS, THE PUBLIC AND OTHER COLLEAGUES STANDINGS UP FOR ME I'VE MADE IT A PRIORITY OF MINE TO CALL ON GOVERNMENTS TO DO MORE.

BRING THEM HOME BUT ALSO DETER THIS IN THE FUTURE.

>> AND WHEN YOU HEAR THIS, I MEAN THAT'S A WHOLE REALLY DIFFICULT ISSUE AND AS THE GOVERNOR TOLD US THERE'S THIS THING CALLED HOSTAGE DIPLOMACY AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO CONFRONT IT.

WHERE DO YOU SEE APARKING LOT FROM A SLIGHT DEESCALATION FROM IRAN AND THE U.S., WHERE DO YOU SEE THIS LEADING?

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO GET THESE PRISONERS OUT OF IRAN?

>> CHRISTIAN FIRST LET ME SAY THAT HOSTAGE TAKING IS A CRUEL AND VILE ACT.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT BUT EVERY AMERICAN PRESIDENT HAS ENGAGED IN THIS KIND OF DIPLOMACY BECAUSE EVERY AMERICAN PRESIDENT IS NUMBER ONE RESPONSIBILITY IS THE SECURITY AND SAFETY OF AMERICAN CITIZENS AND I KNOW THIS DEAL IS LIKELY TO PRODUCE A BACKLASH IN WASHINGTON BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST IS THIS DEAL ARE EITHER AGAINST AMERICAN CITIZENS COMING HOME OR ARE AGAINST THE IRANIAN PEOPLE HAVING ACCESS TO FOOD AND MEDICINE -- >> OKAY.

>> 60 PERCENT OF IRANIANS ARE NOW MALL NOURISHED AS A RESULT OF U.S. SANCTIONS.

>> OKAY.

>> BAZAARS SANCTIONS MAKE FOOD AND MEDICINE EXEMPT.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE THAT POINT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US ON THIS DAY AND AS WE'VE SAID HE TOOK AN UNPRECEDENTED STEP IN MARCH WHEN HE MADE THAT BOLD DECISION TO CALL THIS PROGRAM AND PUBLICLY PRESSURE THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION TO FREE HIM AND THE OTHERS OF COURSE.

HERE'S A BIT MORE OF THAT EMOTIONAL CONVERSATION.

>> IT'S A RARE, RARE THING TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY INSIDE A PRISON.

CAN I START BYING AND YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU ARE TALKING TO US FROM?

>> MY NAME IS [INDISCERNIBLE] AND THIS CALL IS IT BEING MADE FROM WARD FOUR OF THE PRISON IN THE TEHERAN.

>> IT'S A LONG, LONG TIME SINCE WE LAST SPOKE WHEN WE MET IN IRAN AND I WANT TO SAY THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL TO SPEAK TOE SOMEBODY INSIDE THE PRISON.

WHY ARE YOU SPEAKING US TO US IN THIS WAY?

WHY ARE YOU SPEAKING OUT NOW?

>> FIRST IT'S GOOD TOE TO HEAR YOUR VOICE AS WELL AFTER SO MANY YEARS DIRECTLY AND NOT ON A RECORDING THAT SOMEONE IS PLAYING BACK FOR ME.

I THINK THE VERY FACT THAT I'VE CHOSEN TO TAKE THIS RISK IT SHOULD TELL YOU HOW DIRE MY SITUATION HAS BECOME BY THIS POINT.

I'VE BEEN A HOSTAGE FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS NOW.

THAT'S SIX TIMES THE HOSTAGE CRISIS.

I KEEP GETTING TOLD THAT I'M GOING TO BE RESCUED AND DEALS FALL PART OR I GET ABANDONED.

HONESTLY THE OTHER HOSTAGES AND I DESPERATELY NEED PRESIDENT BIDEN TO FINALLY HEAR US OUT, TO FINALLY 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, JUST LIKE EC ODD FOR YOU IT'S VERY INTIMIDATING FOR ME TO DO THIS.

I FEEL I NEED TO BE HEARD.

I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE WHITE HOUSE UNDERSTANDS THAT WE NEED ACTION AND NOT JUST TO BE TOLD THAT BRING THIS OUT IS A PRIORITY.

>> LET ME FOLLOW UP ON THAT BECAUSE YOU DID WRITE AN OP-ED PUBLISHED IN THE NEW YORK TIME IN THE SUMMER.

>> YES, I THINK WHAT IS CLEAR IS THE FOLLOWING THAT THE THREE OF US ARE HOSTAGES IN IRAN.

WE HAVE NOT SO MUCH AS JAYWALKED.

WE HAVE BEEN STAIN FOR ONE REASON AND ONE REASON ONLY AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE U.S. CITIZENS, AND THE FLIP SIDE OF A THAT IS WE WERE ONLY RELEASED THROUGH A DEAL WITH THE U.S. >> I WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU'RE BEING TREATED IF YOU CAN.

HOW IS EVERY DAY LIFE FOR YOU THERE?

HOW DO YOU GET THROUGH THE DAYS?

>> RIGHT.

LOOK THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH I'M COMFORTABLE SAYING ON CNN ABOUT THIS BUT I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER IS THAT I'VE ALL BEEN MADE TO FEEL THAT MY VERY HUMANITY HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM ME, NOT JUST MY FREEDOM.

TODAY I'M IN A GENERAL WARD.

THE SITUATION IN THE GENERAL WARD IS FAR BETTER THAN THE CORNER WAS IN BUT EVERYTHING IS RELATIVE.

IT'S STILL DIFFICULT TO BEAR THE VERY BIB BASIC FACT THAT I'M DENIED MANY OF THE RIGHTS OF A PRISONER BECAUSE I'M A HOSTAGE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CONVEY THAT.

I SEE HARDENED CRIMINALS, I SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE HUMAN TRAFFICKERS HAVE MORE RIGHTS THAN I DO AND I DON'T KNOW -- SO YES, GENERAL CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE GENERAL WARD ARE OKAY, AND I WOULD SAY WE DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO ADAPT TO OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

I PERSONALLY TAKE COMFORT IN THE ENACT I KNOW AISLE DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO FIGHT THIS INJUSTICE.

TODAY IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE FIRST 27 MONTHS OF MY ARREST.

THERE MY SITUATION WAS REALLY PRECARIOUS, I DID NOT FEEL SAFE AT ALL AND I WANT TO MENTION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION KNEW EXACTLY HOW UNSAFE I WAS.

MY CAPTORS MADE IT THEIR MISSION TO STRIP ME ANY SEMBLANCE OF HUMAN DIGNITY.

I SPENT MONTHS CAGED IN A SOLITARY CELL THAT WAS THE SIZE OF A CLOSET, BEING FED LIKE A DOG UNDER THE DOOR AND HONESTLY THAT WAS THE HERE'S OF MY TROUBLES.

TO THIS DAY -- I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS WAS GOING TO -- >> YOU ARE UNDER EXTREME DURESS.

>> I'M SORRY.

I SUPPOSE THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THIS IS SOMEDAY SOME THERAPIST IS GOING TO MAKE [INDISCERNIBLE] YOU ARE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE QUIPS AND THERE'S SOME POSITIVITY TO HEARING THAT YOU'RE STILL ROBUST AND YOU STILL HAVE YOUR STRENGTH.

YOUR FATHER, OF COURSE HE WAS ARRESTED AND HE IS AS YOU SAY AN ELDERLY RETIRED UNICEF OFFICIAL WHEN HE TRIED TO VISIT YOU IN PRISON HE WAS IN PRISON FOR TWO YEARS, FOLLOWING THAT PREVENTEDDED FROM LEAVING THE COUNTRY FOR FIVE YEARS UNTIL HE WAS FINALLY RELEASED THIS PAST OCTOBER AND THEY WERE THEN GIVEN A BRIEF FURLOUGH TO SEE HIM BEFORE HE WAS ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY, YOU WERE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE.

I GUESS I.

TO KNOW HOW IT FELT WHEN YOU COULD SEE HIM GOING TO SAFETY AND WHETHER YOU HOPE AND THINK YOU WILL BE REUNITED.

>> IF YOU WANT TO GET ME BAWLING TALKING ABOUT MY DAD .

.

.

NOW, EVERY FATHER AND -- EVERY FATHER COULD BE HIS SON'S HERO.

MINE CERTAINLY IS MINE.

MY DAD IS MY HERO.

HOW COULD HE NOT BE.

HE SPEND HIS LIFE GOING TO THE POOREST MOST DANGEROUS POSSIBLE PLACES TO SAVE CHILDREN.

HOW COULD I NOT COMPLETELY BE ENAMORED WITH THIS MAN?

AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT TO THIS DAY I CARRY TREMENDOUS GUILT THAT IT WAS MY CHOICE TO COME FOR A FOUR DAY TRIP TO TEHERAN, AND I GOT ARRESTED AND AS YOU SAID MY FATHER GOT LURED BACK AND TRICKED AND ARRESTED BECAUSE OF ME.

SO THERE'S THIS TREMENDOUS GUILT, THIS 79 YEAR OLD HUMAN RIGHTS MEDAL WINNER OF THE UNITED NATIONS TOSSED INTO A FOREIGN SOLITARY CELL AND INTERROGATESSED HARSHLY AND HANDER TEN YEAR PRISON SENTENCE AND THAT WAS A DEATH SENTENCE BECAUSE HE GOT WAY TOO CLOSE FOR IT TO HAPPEN.

I MEAN, HE WAS -- FROM THAT DETENTION CENTER HE WAS AMBULANCED TO THE HOSPITAL SEVERAL TIMES AND HE HAD SEVERAL HEART SURGERIES, INCLUDING GETTING A PACEMAKER PUT IN.

SO HE HAVE REALLY IN BAD SHAPE.

YES, SEEING HIM FINALLY RELEASED IS A HUGE, HUGE BURDEN LIFTED OFF MY VERY GUILTY SHOULDERS.

OF COURSE, I KNOW WHO ARRESTED HIM AND I KNOW IT'S NOT MY FAULT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO TAKE ARBITRARY ARRESTS, A 79-YEAR-OLD MAN AND TREATED HIM HIM THAT WAY BUT THE FACT IS HE CAME FOR ME.

BUT CAN YEAH YOU MENTIONED I GOT FURLOUGHED BY IRANIAN LAW, I'M OWED OVER A HUNDRED DAYS BY THE STRICTEST INTENSER BUT AISLE SO GRATEFUL FOR THOSE TEN DAYS I WAS ALLOWED TO GO CAN I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND IT WAS OCTOBER THAT IRAN SHOWED SOME LONG OVERDUE HUMANITY BY LIMITING THE ILLEGAL TRAVEL BAN THAT WAS PUT ON MY FATHER.

MY FATHER WAS A FREE MAN BY IRANIAN LAW WITH A TRAVEL BAN THAT HAD NO JUSTIFY WHATSOEVER BUT STILL THEY LIFTED IT.

I WAS IN FURLOUGH AND THEN THEY CAME AND TOLD US AND MY DAD WAS IN DISBELIEF.

HE THOUGHT THEY WERE MESSING WITH HIM.

HE THOUGHT IT WAS A GAME BUT IT WASN'T.

THEY ALLOWED HIM TO LEAVE TO GET -- TO JOIN THE REST OF OUR FAMILY AND TO RECEIVE THE CARE THAT HOTHEADED FOR HIS LIFE THREATENING CONDITION.

FOR THAT I'M DEEPLY AND SINCERELY GRATEFUL TO THOSE IN POWER IN TEHERAN, AND I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THEY SUMMON THAT SAME SPIRIT OF HUMANITY TO DO WHAT IS NEEDED ON THEIR PART SO THAT THE REST OF US CAN ALSO BE REUNITED WITH OUR FAMILIES AND START TO PUT THIS DANGER PAST BEHIND US.

>> WE'LL GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT TO THE WORLD AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SO BRAVE AS TO TALK TOS.

>> SO BRAVE, SO DESPERATE BACK THEN AND TODAY AT LEAST ONE STEP CLOSER TO FREEDOM, AT LEAST OUT OF JAIL DESPITE BEING UNDER HOUSE ARREST.

NOW, PRESS FREEDOM IS IN CRISIS IN INDIA.

IT IS ONE OF THE WORST COUNTRIES FOR JOURNALISM.

NOW A NEW DOCUMENTARY IS FOCUSING ON VIOLENCE AGAINST JOURNALISM POLITICALLY PARTISAN MEDIA.

>> IT'S COLD WHILE WE WATCHED AND IT FOLLOWS VETERAN INDIAN NEWS ANCHOR AS HE SPEAKS TRUTH TO POWER AND HE JOINS THE DIRECTOR TO DISCUSS PRESS FREEDOMS IN INDIA.

>> THE DOCUMENTARY IS CALLED WHILE WE WATCHED AND IT TAKES A LOOK AT THE STRAINS AND STRUGGLES OF YOUR LIFE AS A JOURNALIST AT ONE OF THE LAST INDEPENDENT CHANNELS IN INDIA.

AND SPECIFICALLY THAT YOU WERE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST WHAT WHY PERCEIVED TO BE INDIA'S INCREASING NATIONALISM.

SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WAS THE CLIMATE AND IS THE CLIMATE IN INDIA TODAY TO BE FOCUSING AS AN I WANT JOURNALIST AND WHAT WERE THE STRAINS URN GOING THROUGH?

>> THE CLIMATE IS VERY VICIOUS.

IF YOU WANT TO DO JOURNALISM YOU WILL FINDER NO SINGLE PLATFORM WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO QUESTION AS JOURNALIST AND IT STARTED VERY QUICKLY AFTER 2014FUL WHEN NEWS ROOMS WERE -- NEWS ROOMS WERE DEMOLISHED IN ONE GO AND IT WAS LIKE THAT WHEN COMMAND HAS APPEARED FROM THE HEAVEN AND EVERYBODY IS RUSH TO FOLLOW IT.

THE MESSAGE WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THE KIND OF JOURNALISM INDIA OR INDIAN NEWS CHANNELS WERE DOING BEFORE 2014 HAD TO BE STOPPED.

SO THIS MEDIA CAME BECAME -- WAS PRO-PEOPLE BEFORE 2014 AND AFTER 2014.

SO THIS ENVIRONMENT I THINK IT HAD A VERY UNIQUE POSITION, AND THE CHALLENGE WILL NEVER EARN PROFIT FROM SPREADING HATE AND THE OWNERS FACED A LOT OF LEGAL CASES AGAINST THEM BUT STILL THEY TRIED VERY HARD THAT WE DO TRY TO MAN TO SAVE THIS PLATFORM.

WHEN THIS CRISIS WILL PASS.

>> WHY DID YOU WANT TO DO THIS?

YOU'VE GROWN UP WATCHING -- WHEN HIS LONG CAREER.

WHAT MADE YOU THINK THAT THIS IS THIS IS THIS IS THE TIME THAT A IF I AM IT'S FILM LIKE IS WATCHING THE DEATH OF A NEWS ROOM WOULD BE INTERESTING TO WATCH?

>> I MEAN HONESTLY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS I COMPLETELY SWITCHED OFF FROM THE NEWS.

I WASN'T WATCHING ANYTHING, BECAUSE WATCHING THE NEWS WOULD MAKE ME VERY ANXIOUS AND I WOULD TALK ABOUT TO MY FRIENDS ACROSS THE WORLD AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SWITCHING OFF FROM THE NEWS, WHICH I FOUND DISTURBING.

PEOPLE COME TO THE NEWS TO HOPEFULLY LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR LIFE THAT WILL HELP THEM MAKE BETTER CHOICES, SO I HAD SWITCHED OFF FROM THE NEWS AND I REMEMBER COMING ACROSS A BROADCAST WHERE UNLINE MOST POPULAR NEWS ANCHORS WHO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TELLING THE AUDIENCE THAT THE AUDIENCE IS NUMBER ONE AND WE'RE HERE TO SERVE YOU AND HE WAS SCOLDING HIS AUDIENCE.

SO IT SEEMED LIKE, HERE WAS A NEWS PERSON WHO WAS KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONING THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENTS BUT ALSO HIS OWN AUDIENCE AND HE WAS BEING VERY VULNERABLE.

I USED TO WONDER IF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CREATING THE NEWS WERE WORKING THIS THE NEWS BUSINESS, IF THEY FEEL THE SAME ANXIETY THAT I DO AS A VIEWER AND I WAS REALLY -- THIS FILM IS A DEEP DIVE INTO THE COST OF IS IT PROCESS OF NEWS THAT IS BEING PAID BY THE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITHIN THE NEWS BUSINESS.

>> WE WATCH ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IN THE FILL TESTIMONY GOING AWAY PARTIES FOR YOUR STAFF.

AND I WONDER EACH TIME SOMEONE LEFT WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND?

BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND YOU WANT THEM TO BE ABLE THE EARN A LIVE LIVELIHOOD AND ON THE OTHER HAND THAT'S ONE LESS IMPORTANT RESOURCE THAT YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT WHY THINK IS NECESSARY.

>> I BECAME VERY LONELY WITH EACH CAKE CUTTING CEREMONY.

IT WAS VERY DISHEARTENING FOR HE TO SEND THEM OFF AND CELEBRATE THEIR SENDING OFF WITH CAKE.

I KNEW THAT I'M LOSING MY BEST WARRIORS WHO CAN DELIVER ANYTHING.

AND IN THIS CRISIS SITUATION WITH LESSER RESOURCES.

IN YOUR CASE THEY WERE SUCH TALENTED PEOPLE IT MADE ME MORE LONELY AND YES, MANY TIMES IT GAVE ME -- I USED TO THINK THAT THE NUMBER IS COMING TO ME AND MY NUMBER WILL COME ONE DAY AND I WILL ALSO GO FROM THIS FLOOR AND IT HAPPENED.

BUT IT WAS VERY TOUGH TO DO WORK WITHOUT THEM.

NOBODY WOULD REPLACE THEM, YES BUT WE KEEP DOING WITH FEWER NUMBER OF COLLEAGUES.

THEY WERE VERY DEDICATED AFTER THAT ALSO BUT IT WAS ALWAYS TOUGH AND EMOTIONALLY DRAINING.

IT DRAINS YOU THAT YOU ARE LOSING YOUR BEST COLLEAGUES.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK YOUR BRONXS CAN YOU SPECIFICALLY WERE BRANDED ANTINATIONALIST?

BECAUSE THAT'S A PHRASE THAT THE RULING POLITICAL PARTY AS WELL AS OTHER JOURNALISTS IN THE SPECTRUM OF INDIAN MEDIA USED FAIRLY OFTEN AS A CRITIQUE.

>> I THINK MAIN REASON IS THAT FIRST DAY [INDISCERNIBLE] BRANDED NOT ONLY ME BUT ACTORS AS ANTI-INDIA.

THEY KNEW THIS MAN IS DOING THE RIGHT KIND OF THING, RAISING THE -- AND IT COULD BE POLITICAL PROPAGANDA, SO I BECAME THE TARGET FOR THEM, AND I USED TO THINK THAT THEY MUST BE THINKING THAT LET'S GET RID OF HIM, GET HIM OUT FROM THIS CHANNEL.

SO IT WAS VERY NOT EASY FOR THEM TO DIGEST MY KIND OF U.S. SUPPORT I HAD.

AT THAT TIME ALSO, MANY THINGS HAPPENED, WHICH IS VERY STILL UNKNOWN TO ME.

MANY STATES -- MY SHOW, MY CHALLENGE DISAPPEARED FROM MANY CABLE NETWORKS AND MANY STATINGS AND I STARTED GETTING CALLS THAT YOUR SOUND IS COMING BUT YOUR VISUAL VIDEO IS NOT COMING.

YOUR VIDEO IS COMING BUT YOUR SOUND IS NOT COMING.

THIS KIND OF DISTURBANCE I USED TO HAVE SO THE IDEA THAT THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT MY NUMBERS, MY VIEWERS AND THE KIND OF PROGRAM I DO.

THEY WERE VERY CLEAR THAT WE DO NOT WANT THIS KIND OF JOURNALISM IN INDIA ANYMORE WHICH REFLECT PEOPLE'S PROBLEM ON TELEVISION SCREEN.

>> I WANT TO ASK, YOU DOCUMENT SOMETHING THAT JOURNALISTS TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS THE LEVEL OF VITRIOLE AND HATE AND DEATH THREATS THAT HE WAS CONSTANTLY RECEIVING.

WERE WHY AT ANY POINT WHILE MAKE THING FILM CONCERNED FOR YOUR SAFETY?

HIS SAFETY?

>> SO THE THING IS FOR EXAMPLE,, THERE WAS A VERY CLEAR THREAT PERCEPTION TO HIM.

HI USED TO MOVE AROUND WITH AN ARMED GUARD AND SO THAT'S AS REAL AS IT GETS.

AND THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF CONFRONT WITH THE THE SHEER FORCE AT WHICH I THINK THE CHALLENGES IN LIFE IS COMING AT YOU AND THOSE MOMENTS YOU FEEL LIKE I SHOULD DOCUMENT THIS AND COME BACK TO THIS LATER AND FIGURE OUT HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS.

BUT SHOOTING THIS FILM FOR ME AS ALSO A -- IT PUT ME FACE-TO-FACE WITH THAT JOURNALISTS ACROSS THE WORLD ARE GOING THROUGH EVERY DAY AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL WATCH THIS FILM AND KNOW THAT WE HAVE IN A SYSTEMS ABANDONED ORB JOURNALISTS BECAUSE SOONER THAN LATER WHEN WE BELIEVE IN ONE JOURNALIST, ONE ORGANIZATION, ONE GOVERNMENT SOONER THAN LATER ONE ALWAYS MAKES A MISTAKE.

THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE WORLD BUT [INDISCERNIBLE] THAT CATERED TO MANY MORE PEOPLE THAN JUST ONE.

MY AMBITION AND OPEN FOR THIS FILM IS THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AND BUILD BETTER PRACTICES FOR JOURNALISTS IN THE WORD.

>> WHAT WAS THE TOLL ON YOUR FAMILY?

>> OUR FAMILY LIFE WAS AFFECTED VERY MUCH.

SO WE THOUGHT THAT WE ARE GETTING LESS SLEEP, WE ARE NOT WELL KEPT.

THAT IS WHY THESE PANIC ATTACKS ARE HAPPENING BUT LATER WE REALIZED THE MENTAL HEALTH IS COMPLETELY DEVASTATED.

WE STOPPED GOING OUT AS A FAMILY FOR DINNER FOR HOLIDAY BECAUSE I WAS STAYING IN A HOTEL.

AND FOUR, FIVE PEOPLE BARGED INTO MY ROOM AND WE WERE THIS THE ROOM AND THEY STARTED CALLING ME NAMES AND STARTED DEBATE WITH ME.

SO WE HAD TO LEAVE THAT HOTEL NEXT MORNING.

SO THESE THINGS STARTED THINKING -- THE THINKING PROCESS THAT IT'S TIME FOR US TO GO TOGETHER.

TIME IS OVER FOR US TO TRAVEL BY TRAIN AND THE CHILDREN ARE NOT VERY YOUNG, THEY WERE STILL GROWING BUT ONE WAS APPROACHING HER TEENS SO IT AFFECTED HER VERY BADLY.

I HAD NO FAMILY LIFE.

NOW I'M TRYING TO REBUILT THE CONCEPT OF FAMILY LIFE.

>> WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THIS FILM IS ABLE TO BE SCREENED IN A THEATER IN INDIA?

>> I DON'T HAVE ALREADY DISTRIBUTED IN INDIA YET.

I ARRAY REMAIN ON OPTIMIST.

I BELIEVE I'M GOING THROUGH A CONVERSATION THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO HAVE AND WHILE I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT'S HATCHING WITH THE FILM INTERNATIONALLY I MADE THIS FILM FOR MY FRIENDS, NOR MY FAMILY IN INDIA WHO HAVE VERY HEATED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE NEWS SO I CAN'T BRING YOU WITH THESE WORDs SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A FILM, SO JUST TO WIN THAT ARGUMENT I NEED TO GET THIS FILM OUT OF INDIA.

>> WHEN YOU SEE THAT THE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA IS RECEIVED WITH OPEN ARMS BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OR THAT THERE'S PARADES FOR HIM IN FRANCE AND YOU LOOK OUT IN INDIA AND YOU SEE THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO SEE THE WORLD THE PRIME MINISTER DOES, WHY DO YOU GO FORWARD OR HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU ARE CONTINUING TO DO AND THE IMPACT THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE?

>> YES, I CAN SEE BIDEN HUGGING THE PRESIDENT AND NETANYAHU HUGGING MACRON AND MACRON HUGGING NETANYAHU.

YES, THESE THINGS -- I DO NOT EXPECT BIDE SEVEN TO COME TO INDIA AND SOLVE THE CRISIS OF JOURNALISM.

YES I CAN CRITICIZE THOSE MEETINGS, THOSE DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENTSES DIFFERENT COUNTS.

BUT I DO NOT EXPECT ANYTHING FROM BIDEN GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.

THESE FIGHT -- YES THOUGH THE CRISIS OF JOURNALISM RESEMBLES MANY PARTS OF THE WORD BUT THE SOLUTION HAS BEEN TO BE VERY LOCAL, AND I HAVE TO -- I BELIEVE THAT IF I KEEP DOING THIS MANY PEOPLE WILL KEEP DOING THIS AND THANKFULLY THERE ARE MORE VOICES NOW AND TAKING THE RISK AND BEING VERY VOCAL ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT, VERY CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNMENT.

>> BUT WHAT IS YOUR MISSION GOING FORWARD?

NOW YOU CHOSE TO RESIGN AFTER A BILLIONAIRE TOOK OVER THE CHANNEL , THE BILLIONAIRE IS SAID TO HAVE CLOSE CONNECTIONS WITH THE PURCHASE.

WHAT IS YOUR MISSION NOW NOW?

>> IT WAS VERY CLEAR WHO THE OTHER THAN CANCER GOING TO BE, SO THE BILLIONAIRE HAS MULTIPLE NUMBERS OF MILLIONS OF MONEY.

HE CAN BUY EVEN ANY CHALLENGE BUT HE CANNOT GIVE YOU A A SPACE TO RAISE A QUESTION.

HE CANNOT ALLOW TWO QUESTIONS.

HE MAY HAVE A NUMBER OF CHANNELS IN HIS POCKET BUT WE CANNOT CREATE JOURNALISM.

IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS FOR ME THAT THIS IS NOT THE PLACE WHERE I SHOULD BE, SO I LEFT IT AND IT IS GETTING PROVED RIGHT EVERY DAY.

THIS IS THE STATE OF JOURNALISM IN INDIA WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT.

IF WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT THIS CRISIS, WHAT THIS FILM IS DOING TO WHO WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE THEM -- AND I'M SURE THE SCRIPT OF THIS MEDIA IS GOING TO DUPLICATE AND PLAY OUT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

JOURNALISTS HAVE BECOME CRIMINAL IN INDIA.

IF WE ARE TO SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS PLACE CALLED MEDIA.

>> THE FILM IS CALLED WHILE WE WATCHED.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> FINALLY BEFORE WE END THE SHOW WE PAUSE TO REMEMBER THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL LEFT BEHIND WHICH THE PRISON.

THE SCORES OF PROTESTERS AND JOURNALISTS WHO ARE OUTCRYING FOR FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS AFTER THE KILLING LAST YEAR.

AS WE TOLD YOU AT THE TOP OF THE PROGRAM A HANDFUL OF AMERICANS ARE NOW FREE IN IRAN AFTER YEARS OF DETENTION FOR JUST BEING AMERICAN BUT THERE ARE MANY MORE IN PRISON BEING USEs AS PAWNS IN A GAME OF GEOPOLITICAL CHESS.

THE JAMES FOLEY FOUNDATION SAYS THEY KNOW THERE ARE ABOUT 60 U.S. NATIONALS WHO ARE WRONGFULLY DETAINED AROUND THE WORLD AND THERE ARE MANY MORE FORBE FOREIGN NATIONALS ANYTHING TO THEM.

THE FIGHT FOR THEIR FREEDOM CONTINUES.

AND THAT'S IT FOR OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT.