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The pursuing is the afloat transcript of the sheet with erstwhile Iran detainees Siamak Namazi and Emad Shargi, Roger Carstens, a CBS News contributor and erstwhile U.S. peculiar envoy for hostage affairs, and Shargi's sister, Neda Sharghi. A information of the sheet volition aerial connected "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" connected March 22, 2026.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There are astatine slightest 4 Americans presently detained successful Iran. Two of them, Reza Valizadeh and Kamran Hekmati, person been designated by the U.S. authorities arsenic wrongfully detained and are believed to beryllium held successful Iran's notorious Evin Prison. We're joined present by 2 radical who person shared that acquisition of being wrongfully detained wrong Iran, Siamak Namazi and Emad Shargi. Neda Sharghi is Emad's sister and spent years advocating for his merchandise and continues to assistance different families of wrongful detainees. And Roger Carstens is simply a CBS News contributor and formerly the U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs nether some Biden and Trump's archetypal administration. Welcome to the program. It is surreal to spot the 2 of you sitting adjacent to each different arsenic well, having covered your cases for truthful long. I privation to inquire astir what's going connected close now. During the 12-day war, we cognize that Israel, past June, did weaponry Evin Prison. During this existent war, we haven't heard of thing similar that yet, but past Sunday, Iran's overseas curate told america present connected Face The Nation that arsenic agelong arsenic the U.S. and Israel bash not onslaught their prisons, I conjecture they are safe. He was talking astir the astatine slightest 4 Americans that we mentioned there. You cognize what it's similar inside. Emad, what concerns you astir the Americans determination now?
EMAD SHARGI: Thank you, Margaret, for having america here. It's large to beryllium sitting successful beforehand of you present that we are free. I deliberation whenever determination is an contented taking spot successful Iran, the walls of Evin are similar an amplifier. So erstwhile there's a ripple extracurricular successful the society, there's a tidal question inside. I was determination successful October of 20- 2022, erstwhile the Mahsa Amini protests were taking place. Things alteration rapidly, from atrocious to worse, inside. It's a precise uncomfortable situation. I'm disquieted astir the Americans that are determination now, astir their safety, some from their captors and, you know, the state is being bombed, truthful I'm not, you know, I'm a small disquieted that they mightiness go targets of inmates. So--
MARGARET BRENNAN: For being American?
EMAD SHARGI: For being American. I mean, you know, if- if you perceive that your village, your town, has been hit, and the closest happening you person to instrumentality revenge is, you know, 3 cells down, truthful that anticipation is ever there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Siamak, you cognize precise good what it's similar connected the inside. I mean, erstwhile you perceive Emad's statement there, what are you acrophobic astir successful presumption of the Americans and their presumption close now?
SIAMAK NAMAZI: I deliberation this is arsenic unsafe a clip arsenic it tin beryllium for overseas detainees successful Iran. They are stuck betwixt a cruel authorities that is utilizing them arsenic a pawn successful their horrible crippled of hostage diplomacy and a warfare that they cannot control. You know, successful the 12-day war, Israel bombed Evin Prison astir noon. I deliberation they dropped astir 7 bombs, and bombs don't separate betwixt inmates and guards, and truthful they- they person a existent worry. Emad pointed retired correctly that arsenic soon arsenic the concern successful the state becomes securitized, it becomes overmuch much securitized within- wrong the prison. I americium little disquieted astir the inmates. I deliberation these are beauteous people, and they volition astir apt person bully friends astir them. I americium overmuch much disquieted astir the regime. These- they are the easiest to drawback punching container close present successful the hands of- of that rogue regime. So I deliberation this is arsenic unsafe a time. And finally, you know, for- for a hostage oregon wrongfully detained national abroad, their biggest fearfulness is to beryllium forgotten, and this is simply a precise unsafe clip for them, with each that's going connected successful Washington's mind. And you know, the- the regular- the countries that help, the Omanis, the Qataris, everyone has bigger food to fry than to interest astir the detainees. So fto maine articulation Emad and the others of thanking you, you know, bringing attraction to this, it's- we- we bash request to get them out. This is arsenic unsafe a clip as- arsenic we tin ideate for them.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And you're right. We're not proceeding a batch astir these prisoners. We volition grant immoderate of the families who don't privation names public, but we mentioned that the numbers are- are possibly adjacent higher than what's being publically reported. Why? Why isn't it being discussed more? Is determination a hazard close present successful making it an issue? That's often the statement you perceive from diplomats. You summation the terms connected the caput of an American if you amplify that they're important. Why bash you deliberation it's important close present to accidental that they matter?
EMAD SHARGI: Because I and my person sitting adjacent to maine were successful those- connected those floors, successful those cells, we recognize what it means erstwhile radical successful your state cognize astir you, that your lawsuit is important capable for radical successful the State Department to speech about. It gives you hope. You spell to furniture a small easier. You aftermath up a small lighter. You cognize determination is simply a airy astatine the extremity of the tunnel. The worst happening that tin hap to you is that cipher talks astir you. That is simply a horrible feeling. You truly consciousness mislaid successful the universe.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Siamak, you were, I believe, the longest held American captive to person been released from Iran. Eight years.
SIAMAK NAMAZI: Not the satellite rubric you anticipation for, is it?
MARGARET BRENNAN: No, I'm gladsome that you person a consciousness of wit astir it. I conjecture you person to- to get done that.
SIAMAK NAMAZI: Yes, but close now, let's absorption connected those who are successful there. We're thankfully out. And I privation to echo what Emad says, it's truly surreal to beryllium sitting here. I deliberation 4 years agone to- oregon 3 years agone to the mark, determination was idiosyncratic who had snuck successful a compartment telephone and fto america get it to spot your program. And you- I deliberation you were talking with Emad's daughters and- and his wife, if I'm- if I retrieve correctly, and I retrieve telling Emad, I'm truthful arrogant of your girls for getting truthful bully astatine this. I'm atrocious that, you know, this is what it took, but it's highly important to springiness radical hope. But beyond hope, it's besides the policymakers connected this side. This- there's truthful overmuch going connected successful Iran and particularly with this war. We, you know, each U.S. presidents, I deliberation each azygous 1 of them, would privation to get American detainees out. And I deliberation this peculiar president takes pridefulness successful it. I don't cognize if he's adjacent alert that we person astatine slightest six, and I would- I would situation the 4 number. At slightest six, astir apt more, due to the fact that there's a batch of radical who don't privation their cases mentioned, adjacent to the State Department. And you know, we- we request to get the connection retired to springiness them hope. As I said, being forgotten is the biggest fear. Today, astir apt rivaled with the fearfulness of bombs dropping connected them, oregon the authorities taking retired the information that they can't bash thing astir the weaponry connected these guys. But we need- we- you know, we request to enactment unit connected the argumentation makers present to punctual them we person Americans successful harm's mode solely for holding a bluish passport, and we request to bring them home. I think- 1 happening I should stress is, I cognize it's wartime. I cognize what other are we going to bash to Iran? What are we going to endanger them with? Or, you know, there's- there's no--
MARGARET BRENNAN: --They're incredibly sanctioned.
SIAMAK NAMAZI: True, but- well, they're getting bombed. There's thing else- they're- they're getting truly bombed. But each wars extremity successful diplomacy, either nonstop oregon indirect. And truthful what I would similar to see, and what I anticipation for programs similar this could encourage, is to marque definite that it is simply a existent precedence to get retired our radical the archetypal accidental determination is for diplomacy and negotiations with Iran.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Neda, you were specified an advocator for your brother. Two of the names that bash privation to beryllium public, and I privation to work them. Reza Valizadeh is simply a journalist. He was charged with collaborating with a hostile government. I conjecture the United States is the hostile government. Kamran Hekmati was conscionable designated this week. He's 61 years old, a 2 twelvemonth sentence, an accusation of a fewer things, including visiting Israel. What bash we request to cognize astir these cases and what is this similar ceremonial designation really achieve?
NEDA SHARGHI: Thank you for having maine on. The designation is precise important, due to the fact that you publically present admit these individuals arsenic being utilized for their bluish passport, and the United States authorities present has the benignant of carte blanche to usage each its resources to get them out. And, you know, these 2 individuals, Reza's and Kamran's families, bash privation their cases to beryllium public. You know, arsenic a journalist, you know, I don't deliberation Reza is getting arsenic overmuch attraction arsenic you cognize Evan Gershkovich was receiving. I don't cognize why, but we request to summation Reza's profile. And, you know, it's- it's nationalist knowledge. Kamran Hekmati is an American Jew, and his- his household wants everyone to cognize that he- he- helium needs the aforesaid attraction that we gave the hostages who were being held successful Gaza. And yes, we are astatine war, but President Trump has shown america impervious of concept. He brought location Americans during the warfare successful Gaza, and I americium incredibly confident, having brought implicit 100 Americans home, that if helium knows the names of these individuals, if helium knows the stories that helium will, you know, instruct his medication to find a mode of bringing them home.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you deliberation determination truly is simply a accidental helium doesn't know?
NEDA SHARGHI: You know, I haven't heard him accidental those names. And you know, arsenic idiosyncratic who advocated for my member and for Siamak and for different families, we ever accidental state starts with a name. You've got to utter the name, it has to travel retired of your mouth. And I- I anticipation to perceive President Trump utter those words. And the families, you know, my proposal to the families is- is, you know, you have- your assemblage is present successful the U.S., prosecute with the media. Senior leaders successful the White House and successful the State Department, clasp them accountable. They understand, they person heavy skin. If it was their household members being held successful Iran, they would bash the aforesaid thing. And marque definite the American nationalist knows the stories and knows the names. Don't beryllium scared. Be vocal. Be retired there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Roger, you were 1 of those officials with heavy tegument wrong the section proceeding successful the past astir radical who had been detained. Right now, wherefore aren't we proceeding more? You were portion of the past administration's attempts to get these gentlemen out. There was a commercialized there. There was merchandise of prisoners from the United States, radical who had really gone done the tribunal system. And past determination was besides a merchandise of astir $6 cardinal successful funds. That was hugely controversial, but it was a commercialized President Biden decided to transportation out, bash these options not beryllium now?
ROGER CARSTENS: Yeah. I mean, the options astir apt change. I can- I tin constituent retired that the- the commercialized that we did successful presumption of money, that was from South Korea to Qatar, the money's not been touched. Not $1 went into Iran during that period. It was to beryllium capable to usage for humanitarian items, and the Iranians ne'er utilized it. And I deliberation determination astir apt are things that we should beryllium considering, but I'll accidental conscionable a fewer things. Number one, from experience, President Trump does attraction astir this taxable precise much. We often accidental that this is the past nonpartisan oregon bipartisan issue, and that some President Trump, President Biden and spell backmost to astir apt the 1950s you'll find American presidents that truly cared astir this. And arsenic Neda said, President Trump has a beauteous bully way grounds here. I would accidental that though- it's close present you're seeing the political, subject and economical degradation of Iran's capabilities, and that's benignant of starring it. So you're going to spot the military, of course, beforehand and halfway successful presumption of trying to thrust a strategy. And possibly the things that you mightiness telephone arsenic a governmental nonsubjective oregon a hostage nonsubjective mightiness beryllium disconnected to the broadside oregon not needfully coming up to fruition. I deliberation it's our anticipation that if the president lists 4 warfare objectives, that the 5th nonsubjective is getting Americans retired and possibly freeing each the different radical that are kept successful Evin Prison. I deliberation I've seen a database of astir apt conscionable nether 20, not lone Americans, but Europeans arsenic well. And I'm hopeful that whether that's an announced objective, oregon whether that's disconnected to the side, I'm hopeful that's- that's connected his database of things to do. But possibly the past happening I'll constituent retired is the designation of Iran arsenic a authorities sponsor of hostage diplomacy came out, similar a time oregon 2 anterior to the warfare starting--
MARGARET BRENNAN: --For the precise archetypal clip it was used.
ROGER CARSTENS: First time. And I think- I deliberation it was done for a reason. I deliberation that Secretary of State Rubio, successful making that announcement, was trying to say, this is important, we're watching it, but we person immoderate subject objectives that we request to- to enactment done first.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So you are assured that yet these Americans volition beryllium capable to travel retired and that the medication volition propulsion for them.
ROGER CARSTENS: You know, it's hard to say, I americium assured that they volition yet travel out. I ever utilized to accidental this astir my 2 friends crossed the array here. We cognize however the communicative ends. The communicative ends with them coming out. It's conscionable however overmuch clip and however overmuch symptom bash you person to spell done to get there. And I'm conscionable hopeful that the medication is moving that. I would person a content that they are. I deliberation this is the 1 country that I cognize President Trump cares profoundly about, conscionable arsenic President Biden did. And I'd similar to deliberation that it's 1 of those objectives that's implicit here, and erstwhile it's time, it volition travel to the forefront. But I deliberation conscionable from wherever we are successful presumption of what's important to us, you know, heavy down, I cognize we'd similar to spot that travel retired to the forefront earlier, alternatively than later.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Because you 2 person specified unthinkable experience. Can you archer america a small spot astir who are the radical wrong the walls of Evin Prison. Because close now, successful the American dialogue, you are proceeding these calls from the Israeli government, from the American government, for the- for the Iranian radical to instrumentality to the streets. You knew a batch of that governmental opposition, and they were wrong the walls of that prison, right? Who is there? Like, what are you reasoning astir successful this moment?
EMAD SHARGI: I wilI defer to Siamak to reply that question. I deliberation for astir 2 years, Siamak and I were separate. Siamak knows immoderate of the much highly known and respected absorption leaders who were successful his ward, and I got to conscionable immoderate of the boys who had gone connected the thoroughfare and- and protestation during the Mahsa Amini and besides during the substance summation uprisings. So I deliberation together, we person seen some sides of them, truthful Siamak?
SIAMAK NAMAZI: That's a point, Evin Prison is not conscionable wherever they instrumentality criminals, it's wherever the authorities holds anyone they privation retired of the way. And this is simply a highly corrupt mafia-like system, truthful you volition tally into precise elder people. It's benignant of similar a mafia war. He knocks retired the group, thing personal, wants the turf. So if your nether brag gets weak, you extremity up successful prison, and immoderate different feline takes implicit your economical turf. So you conscionable precise elder Iranian officials each the mode down to, you know, members of ISIS and everything successful between. Obviously, there's a batch of the absorption coming, from salient people, erstwhile reformists turned transitionalists arsenic they telephone themselves, immoderate really, really, amazingly brave people, quality rights lawyers, civilian rights movements, from labour unions, teachers movements. And I volition archer you something, they volition permission you successful awe of what bravery means. And I person seen tremendous bravery. But what we ever knew was across- wherever we were conscionable 1 gait distant from the women's ward, and we knew they- they had the existent guts- they were- they shamed us. You know, they shamed each the men. They had a batch much restrictions and a batch much guts. You conscionable just amazing, astonishing people. And 1 happening I'm arrogant to say, you would spot from monarchists to members of the MEK to, arsenic I said, reformists, and they spoke respectfully to each other, dissimilar what we spot contiguous among the Iranian absorption of the diaspora, which is- has a agelong mode to go, but- but you bash conscionable amazing, amazing, courageous radical who basal up for what is close and gladly travel successful situation and wrong situation too, basal up for what is close and wage the terms wrong arsenic well.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And I deliberation you captured it determination that the situation isn't conscionable a spot for criminals, it's truly a awesome of the regime's clasp and the mode it uses it to power the nationalist and the governmental power, right? That's what I'm proceeding you say.
SIAMAK NAMAZI: And it besides shows however atrocious they are astatine doing that, due to the fact that adjacent wrong prison, adjacent portion they're containing you, you volition perceive radical putting retired announcements, printing successful the newspapers. Even wrong Evin Prison, they- they neglect to crush the dependable of these courageous people.
MARGARET BRENNAN: For the- the inmates present and the Americans there, Roger, tin you archer america successful the talks that Envoy Witkoff and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were having indirectly with apical Iranian diplomats, were the Americans raised astatine all? Or should they stay wholly abstracted from the atomic objectives?
ROGER CARSTENS: Yeah, I- I privation I had the reply to that conscionable retired of curiosity. I don't cognize the reply to it, but I tin accidental that erstwhile we were arguing to get these gentlemen home, we were precise cognizant of the transportation betwixt the atomic talks and that of the captive talks, due to the fact that if the atomic talks abruptly neglect precise horribly, the captive talks could beryllium pulled down with it. So it was precise important for america to possibly conscionable person a dotted enactment betwixt the 2 issues, but not nexus them excessively tightly together, which--
MARGARET BRENNAN: But successful the presumption of the regime, they're tied.
ROGER CARSTENS: I deliberation to- much to an grade than successful ours. I deliberation we were precise applicable astir however adjacent those issues got together, and we wanted the flexibility to abstracted them if we wanted to. And the regime, I deliberation they're- they're overmuch much joined adjacent together. And truthful that's why— I truly don't cognize I mean, if- if Witkoff and Kushner were- were trying to articulate an extremity to a atomic issue, however adjacent volition they propulsion it together? Practically, it whitethorn not beryllium that close, depending connected wherever they consciousness they are with the Iranians.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It's hard, arsenic a household member, to not say- and I cognize you virtually went to the White House and said, you request to speech astir my brother, and these things request to beryllium raised. But this is truthful thorny and analyzable erstwhile quality beings are astatine the different extremity of these truly analyzable atomic issues and subject issues. For the American people, what bash you privation them to know, Neda, astir some the Americans who are held and the Iranians and the Iranian Americans who are backmost successful Tehran close now?
NEDA SHARGHI: Well, you know, I'm not an analyst. I tin springiness you a small spot astir my ain lived experience. You know, I was calved successful Iran, and I near with my household during the gyration successful 1979 with my parents and Emad. I americium an American now, but, you know, my state of commencement is inactive precise overmuch successful my heart, and determination are radical successful Iran who each they privation is state and peace, and they, you know, it's- it's- it's tough, due to the fact that present I americium trying to advocator for Americans there, but I privation state for everyone, And I privation radical of Iran to find liberation conscionable arsenic much. I- I bash privation to accidental that, benignant of to Roger's point, what happens with our American hostages, whether they're- they're successful Iran oregon successful Venezuela, is that they ever go a hostage to different bigger, broader governmental issues. And I privation that, you know, Envoy Witkoff had, benignant of, earlier helium started engaging with the Iranians, had said, we volition not speech to you until there's an unconditional merchandise of our Americans. I'm not definite if that was asked oregon not, but present we are again. You know, these- these Americans who are innocent, are again tied to this contented that's, you know, retired of their control. So I want- I privation Americans to cognize that, you know, Kamran and- and Reza are conscionable mean Americans who were there, benignant of, to- to instrumentality attraction of family, and they've been caught successful this large issue. And we request to- we request to person our authorities to abstracted them from what's going connected and- and find a originative solution, similar we did to get Emad and Siamak home. Find a originative solution to bring them home.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I wonderment what you, but the 2 of you successful particular, would accidental to President Trump astatine a infinitesimal similar this.
EMAD SHARGI: What I would archer the president is helium has specified a large grounds of getting Americans location from each implicit the world. I don't deliberation immoderate different president has managed to bash what helium has done successful the archetypal 100 days. And I'm assured that if helium is alert that determination are Americans sitting successful Evin Prison, that helium is going to instruct radical astir him to enactment that connected the agenda. So I deliberation it's important that helium hears that, that determination are guiltless Americans being held similar we were arsenic governmental pawns.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Siamak?
SIAMAK NAMAZI: I wholly hold with Emad, and I can't ideate if President Trump knew their names and knew these cases, they wouldn't beryllium 1 of the priorities. I would accidental that it is unfortunate that they weren't- precedence was not fixed to them before. But arsenic I said, I personally deliberation that determination volition beryllium a clip soon due to the fact that each wars extremity with immoderate signifier of diplomacy. So I would implore President Trump to marque definite that portion of those negotiations that volition beryllium coming up is bringing our radical home.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I'll fto that beryllium the last connection from the 2 of you. Thank you and convey you for your time. We'll beryllium close back.
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