Stories about Iran | 60 Minutes Full Episodes

Full Episodes | 60 Minutes
2 Mar 202454:12

Summary

TLDRThis script delves into the escalating tensions between the US and Iran, highlighting Iran's use of proxy militias and hired hitmen to target American officials and dissidents. It recounts the harrowing experience of a former American hostage in Iran and details the 2020 confrontation between the two countries after the US killed an Iranian general, culminating in a massive Iranian missile attack. The script also features interviews with President Raisi, exploring Iran's stance on the nuclear deal and its hostility towards Israel and the US.

Takeaways

  • 🌍 Tensions between the US and Iran have escalated, with Iranian-backed militias frequently attacking US bases in Syria and Iraq.
  • 🔍 Iran uses proxy fighters, such as Hezbollah and Hamas, and also deploys hitmen globally to intimidate, abduct, and assassinate perceived enemies.
  • 🎯 Iran has targeted former American officials, including President Trump, offering large sums for their assassination.
  • 🕵️‍♂️ The FBI thwarted an assassination attempt against John Bolton, revealing Iran's use of online platforms to hire hitmen.
  • 🔵 Iran's aggressive tactics extend to vocal Iranian activists abroad, aiming to silence dissent against the regime.
  • 🚨 The FBI and intelligence agencies report an increase in Iran's bold efforts to target dissidents, signaling a serious security concern.
  • 💡 Iran employs criminal syndicates in the West for these operations, offering a layer of deniability.
  • 🇬🇧 The UK has foiled multiple Iranian kidnapping and assassination attempts, indicating this is a global issue.
  • 🔑 Iran's recruitment of criminals for overseas operations highlights a complex network aimed at executing its agenda.
  • 🚔 Despite thwarted plots, Iran's tactics pose a significant threat, emphasizing the need for vigilance and international cooperation.

Q & A

  • What were the main reasons behind the increasing tensions between the US and Iran as described in the script?

    -The script cites several reasons for the rising tensions, including Iranian-backed militias attacking US bases in Syria and Iraq, Iran's hiring of hitmen to target perceived enemies of the regime (including American officials), and the US assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani as retaliation for his involvement in attacks that killed over 600 US troops.

  • How did Iran allegedly attempt to assassinate former US officials like John Bolton and Mike Pompeo?

    -According to the script, Iran offered a hitman $1 million to kill Mike Pompeo and allegedly tried to hire a hitman online to corner and kill John Bolton in a garage. However, the hitman was revealed to be an FBI informant.

  • What was the plot against Iranian activist Masih Alinejad, and how was it thwarted?

    -The script mentions a plot to kidnap Masih Alinejad, an Iranian activist living in Brooklyn, and take her by speedboat to Venezuela. However, the FBI foiled this plot. Later, Iran allegedly paid a man $30,000 to buy a semi-automatic rifle and kill Alinejad, but he was arrested before carrying out the plan.

  • How did the US and Iran reach a prisoner exchange deal involving American detainees in Iran?

    -The script states that the US and Iran reached a complex agreement in which Iran would be able to access $6 billion in restricted oil revenue to purchase humanitarian goods, and in exchange, Iran would release five American detainees.

  • What were the circumstances surrounding the US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani?

    -According to the script, the US had intelligence reports that Soleimani was planning attacks against US forces in Iraq and elsewhere. The decision to kill him was based on the assessment that the risk of not acting outweighed the risk of acting, even though it was an unprecedented move against such a high-ranking official.

  • How did Iran retaliate for the killing of Qasem Soleimani, and what were the consequences?

    -Iran retaliated by launching 16 ballistic missiles at the Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq, where US troops were stationed. The script provides a detailed account of the attack, which resulted in no US casualties but over 100 cases of traumatic brain injury among American soldiers.

  • What was President Ebrahim Raisi's stance on the nuclear deal negotiations during the interview?

    -Raisi expressed skepticism about reaching a new nuclear deal, citing a lack of trust in the US due to its previous withdrawal from the agreement. He demanded guarantees that the US would not withdraw from any future deal and stated that making promises is becoming meaningless.

  • How did President Raisi respond to allegations of human rights violations and his involvement in the execution of political dissidents?

    -Raisi denied the allegations, calling them claims made by a terrorist group. He stated that anyone who commits a crime in Iran stands trial in official courts and receives proportionate punishment.

  • What was President Raisi's stance on Israel's right to exist and the Holocaust?

    -Raisi refused to acknowledge Israel's right to exist, calling it a "false regime" and stating that supporting it means being an "accomplice to their crimes." He also expressed doubt about the Holocaust, suggesting that historical events should be investigated by researchers.

  • How did President Raisi respond to the possibility of retaliation for the killing of Qasem Soleimani?

    -Raisi vowed that Iran would seek justice for Soleimani's killing, though he did not explicitly endorse an "eye for an eye" approach. He stated that Iran would not carry out the same actions as the US and Israel but suggested that justice would be served without providing specifics.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Rising Tensions: US-Iran Proxy Wars

The video segment highlights escalating tensions between the US and Iran, focusing on attacks by Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq following the Israel-Hamas War. It details Iran's use of proxy fighters, such as Hezbollah and Hamas, and a more covert strategy involving the hiring of hitmen to intimidate, abduct, and assassinate opponents on foreign soil, including the US. Notably, it mentions threats against former US officials like President Trump, Mark Esper, Mike Pompeo, and John Bolton, emphasizing Iran's global reach in targeting its enemies through diverse and unconventional means.

05:02

🎯 Targeted Assassinations: Iran's Global Hitmen

This section delves into Iran's attempts to carry out assassinations globally, highlighting cases where dissidents and critics of the regime, living abroad, were targeted. It narrates the thwarted plots against Masih Alinejad in Brooklyn and Jamshid Sharmahd in Los Angeles, showcasing Iran's utilization of criminals and hitmen for these operations. The narrative underscores the audacity and complexity of Iran's international assassination attempts, including plans to kidnap or kill opponents using diverse proxies, thus maintaining deniability and complicating international counter-efforts.

10:04

🔍 The Struggle for Freedom: Iranian Dissidents' Plight

This segment focuses on the personal stories of Iranian dissidents who have been targeted by the regime, such as Masih Alinejad and Jamshid Sharmahd. Alinejad's activism against compulsory hijab laws and her subsequent targeting by Iranian operatives in Brooklyn is highlighted, alongside the capture of Sharmahd during a trip, leading to his televised confession and death sentence in Iran. These narratives illustrate the regime's relentless pursuit of its critics, employing extreme measures to silence dissent both within and beyond its borders.

15:05

🛡️ Surviving Assassination: The Iranian Threat Abroad

This part of the video illustrates how Iranian dissidents and former US officials have managed to evade assassination attempts, thanks to vigilance and security measures. It recounts the plot against John Bolton, which was foiled due to the assassin being an FBI informant. The segment also discusses the broader implications of such attacks on US soil, questioning the adequacy of current US policies and responses to Iran's aggressive tactics. It raises concerns about the safety of outspoken critics of the Iranian regime and the need for more effective deterrents.

20:08

🌐 A Complex Web: Iran's Shadow War

Detailing Iran's covert operations, this section explores the sophisticated network Iran employs to execute its global agenda, including the recruitment of criminals for assassination plots. It provides insight into the mechanisms of Iran's shadow war, demonstrating how the regime leverages criminal networks to extend its reach and conduct operations with plausible deniability. This part emphasizes the challenges faced by international security agencies in countering Iran's complex and layered strategies, highlighting the need for global cooperation and vigilance.

25:10

🔫 The Mechanics of Terror: Iran's Recruitment and Tactics

Focusing on the operational aspects of Iran's assassination and kidnapping plots, this segment reveals how Iran recruits and uses criminals for its international operations. It includes a detailed account of an Iranian smuggler approached by the Revolutionary Guard to find operatives for violent acts abroad. The narrative underscores the regime's reliance on criminal elements to further its objectives, offering a glimpse into the dark underbelly of Iran's efforts to silence opposition and intimidate its adversaries globally.

30:12

🎙️ Voices of Dissent: The Cost of Criticizing Iran

This segment presents the personal stories of individuals targeted by the Iranian regime, emphasizing the high cost of dissent. It showcases the experiences of dissidents and activists who, despite facing threats and assassination attempts, continue to speak out against the regime. The narrative highlights the resilience and courage of these individuals, as well as the support and protection they receive from foreign governments, underscoring the ongoing struggle for freedom of speech and human rights in the face of authoritarian repression.

35:13

🚨 An Act of War: The US-Iran Tension Escalates

Exploring the broader geopolitical implications of Iran's actions, this segment examines the tension between the US and Iran, particularly in the context of targeted assassinations and kidnapping plots. It questions the effectiveness of US sanctions and policies in deterring Iran's aggressive behavior, highlighting criticisms of the current administration's approach. The narrative raises concerns about the potential for these actions to escalate into an act of war, emphasizing the need for a more robust and decisive response to protect citizens and uphold international norms.

40:15

🔒 A Harrowing Escape: The Story of Imad Shi

This part of the video tells the harrowing story of Imad Shi, a dual US-Iranian citizen detained and imprisoned by Iran under false charges. It chronicles his ordeal in prison, the cruel treatments he endured, and his eventual escape attempt that led to his re-arrest. Shi's story exemplifies the regime's use of detention and torture as tools of repression and the difficulties in securing the release of those wrongfully detained. It also touches on the complex prisoner exchange deal that eventually led to his release, shedding light on the diplomatic challenges involved.

45:16

🌏 Hostage Diplomacy: Iran's Strategic Use of Detainees

Focusing on the strategic use of detained foreign nationals by Iran, this segment discusses the broader implications of such practices for international relations and diplomacy. It highlights the case of Imad Shi and others who were released in a complex deal involving restricted Iranian oil revenue. The narrative criticizes the use of individuals as bargaining chips in geopolitical negotiations, emphasizing the moral and ethical concerns surrounding hostage diplomacy and its impact on the victims and their families.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Assassination

Assassination refers to the act of intentionally killing someone, typically a prominent or public figure, for political or ideological reasons. The video discusses various assassination plots orchestrated by the Iranian government against dissidents, activists, and former U.S. officials. For example, it mentions a plot to assassinate John Bolton, the former National Security Advisor, and a plan to kidnap and potentially assassinate Masih Alinejad, an Iranian activist living in the U.S.

💡Proxy

A proxy, in the context of the video, refers to individuals or groups acting on behalf of or under the influence of another entity, particularly a state or government. The video highlights Iran's use of proxies, such as criminal organizations, drug dealers, and foreign nationals, to carry out assassination attempts and other covert operations on U.S. soil. This allows Iran to maintain plausible deniability and distance itself from the actions.

💡Retaliation

Retaliation refers to the act of taking revenge or inflicting harm in response to an injury or attack. The video discusses Iran's vows of retaliation against the U.S. for the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani, a prominent Iranian military leader. This retaliation took the form of a ballistic missile attack on U.S. bases in Iraq, which the video explores in detail.

💡Hostage

A hostage is a person who is held captive by a group or individual to secure certain demands or concessions. The video highlights the case of Emad Shargi, an American businessman who was held hostage in Iran for over five years, and the ongoing detention of American citizens in Iran. The hostage situation is used as leverage by the Iranian government in negotiations and as a bargaining chip.

💡Deterrence

Deterrence refers to the ability of a state or entity to discourage or prevent an adversary from taking certain actions through the threat of retaliation or punishment. The video questions whether the U.S. has lost its deterrence against Iran, as the Iranian government appears emboldened to target American citizens and officials on U.S. soil without fear of repercussions.

💡Sanctions

Sanctions are economic or trade restrictions imposed on a country, organization, or individual to punish or coerce them into changing their behavior or policies. The video discusses the economic sanctions placed on Iran by the U.S. and their impact on the Iranian economy. It also explores the debate around lifting or easing sanctions as part of potential negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.

💡Nuclear Deal

The nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was an agreement reached in 2015 between Iran and several world powers, including the U.S., to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. The video explores the ongoing negotiations and disagreements between the U.S. and Iran over reviving or renegotiating this deal.

💡Revolutionary Guard

The Revolutionary Guard, officially known as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), is a branch of the Iranian military responsible for protecting the country's Islamic system. The video highlights the IRGC's involvement in orchestrating assassination plots, detaining foreign nationals, and conducting other covert operations on behalf of the Iranian government.

💡Dissident

A dissident is a person who opposes or dissents from the established policies or beliefs of a government or organization. The video features Iranian dissidents living abroad, such as Masih Alinejad and Jamshid Sharmahd, who have been targeted by the Iranian government for their activism and criticism of the regime. Their experiences highlight the Iranian government's efforts to silence dissent and opposition.

💡Ballistic Missile

A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a ballistic trajectory, initially powered by a rocket and then falling under the influence of gravity and air resistance. The video provides detailed accounts of the Iranian ballistic missile attack on U.S. bases in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of General Qasem Soleimani, highlighting the accuracy and destructive power of these weapons.

Highlights

The tensions between the US and Iran have escalated, with Iranian-backed militias frequently attacking US bases in Syria and Iraq, leading to a serious situation.

Iran is hiring hitmen around the world, including in the US, to intimidate, abduct and assassinate perceived enemies of the regime, posing a significant threat.

The FBI has foiled several plots by Iran to kidnap or assassinate US officials, including a plan to kill former National Security Advisor John Bolton.

Iran's revolutionary guard recruited criminal gangs and smugglers to carry out kidnappings and assassinations on its behalf, providing them with money and promises of more if successful.

American businessman Siamak Namazi spent over 5 years as a prisoner in Iran's notorious Evin prison, enduring interrogations and threats of torture, before being released in a prisoner swap deal.

The US and Iran reached a complex agreement involving the release of $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue, which can be used to purchase humanitarian goods, in exchange for the release of American detainees.

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, in his first interview with a Western reporter, expressed distrust towards the US and a lack of interest in renewing the nuclear deal without guarantees.

Raisi denied allegations of human rights violations and his involvement in the execution of political dissidents, claiming they were just allegations by a terrorist group.

Raisi cast doubt on the Holocaust and Israel's right to exist, calling it a false regime and stating that those who recognize it are accomplices to its crimes.

Raisi vowed revenge on the US for the killing of General Soleimani, stating that justice must be served, though not through assassination.

In January 2020, the US and Iran came closest to war after a US drone strike killed Iran's General Soleimani, prompting Iran to launch a ballistic missile attack on Al-Asad airbase in Iraq.

The missile attack on Al-Asad airbase was the largest ballistic missile attack ever against American forces, involving 16 missiles, causing significant damage but miraculously no fatalities.

US troops at Al-Asad airbase had to take shelter in bunkers during the attack, with many choosing to stay and share the danger despite evacuation orders, displaying remarkable courage.

The attack caused over 100 cases of traumatic brain injury among US troops, with many still suffering lingering effects like headaches, tinnitus, and PTSD.

Had the US not evacuated personnel and aircraft from Al-Asad airbase before the attack, estimates suggest the damage could have been much worse, with potential loss of 20-30 aircraft and 100-150 personnel.

Transcripts

00:12

tensions keep Rising between the US and

00:15

Iran since the Israel Hamas War Began

00:19

almost every week Iranian back militias

00:22

have attacked us bases in Syria and Iraq

00:26

it's the latest example and a serious

00:29

escal

00:30

of teran's use of proxy Fighters like

00:34

Hezbollah and Hamas tonight you'll hear

00:37

of another type of proxy that Iran

00:39

deploys that receives far less attention

00:43

Teran is hiring Hitmen around the world

00:46

in an effort to intimidate abduct and

00:49

assassinate perceived enemies of the

00:52

regime and they're doing it right here

00:55

on us

00:58

soil this this video was posted online

01:02

by a channel affiliated with Iran's

01:04

revolutionary guard it vows to kill

01:07

former American government officials

01:10

including president Trump to avenge the

01:12

2020 us assassination of the terrorism

01:16

Mastermind kasum

01:18

sulamani threats like this have been

01:20

deemed credible enough that several of

01:23

these officials have been under

01:25

round-the-clock protection including

01:27

Former Defense secretary Mark s

01:30

former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

01:34

Iran reportedly offered a Hitman a

01:36

million dollars to kill him and John

01:39

Bolton the former National Security

01:42

adviser they bargained the price for me

01:45

would be

01:45

$300,000 which I have to say I found

01:48

insulting so what exactly was the plot

01:51

against you the Revolutionary guard

01:53

sought to procure either my kidnapping

01:56

or my

01:57

assassination uh not directly by a

02:00

revolutionary guards member but by

02:01

seeking a Hitman who would carry out the

02:04

job either in the US or abroad the FBI

02:08

has an arrest warrant out for this

02:10

Iranian officer claiming that he hired

02:14

the Hitman online to travel to

02:17

Washington Corner Bolton in a garage and

02:20

kill him but it turned out lucky for

02:24

Bolton the Assassin was an FBI informant

02:28

this was not internet matter this was a

02:31

negotiation to murder an American

02:33

citizen a former government official is

02:35

the threat against you ongoing we've got

02:39

marked Secret Service cars that say

02:41

police United States Secret Service

02:43

outside my home we talked to the FBI and

02:46

several intelligence agencies and they

02:49

told us that Iran's efforts are becoming

02:52

more frequent and Bolder and that they

02:55

often go after vocal Iranian activists

02:58

living abroad

03:00

the idea behind assassination plot

03:02

behind kidnapping plot is to keep you

03:05

silent it's a beautiful family place we

03:08

met one of their targets in Brooklyn MSI

03:11

alinad is a leader in the women's revolt

03:15

against the law in Iran mandating they

03:18

wear a headscarf or hijab forced to flee

03:22

14 years ago she settled here in

03:25

Brooklyn where she encourages women back

03:28

home to to send her videos of them

03:31

taking off the hijabs and she spreads

03:34

those images online to her 10 million or

03:38

so followers fueling the protest

03:41

movement so the mullers began to focus

03:45

on you the FBI came and told you there

03:48

was a plot against you there were like

03:51

six or seven FBI agents when they came

03:54

to my house um they told me that your

03:57

life is in danger I was like okay tell

03:59

me something new because we Iranians are

04:02

used to it but they actually said nope

04:05

this time is different they said that

04:08

the Iranian regime hired private

04:10

investigator on us soil to take photos

04:14

of your movement your daily life your

04:17

routine and I was like wow so they are

04:20

here in New York in Brooklyn the plot

04:23

was to kidnap you and take you by

04:27

speedboat to Venezuela hey it sounds

04:30

like a scary movie to you now you don't

04:32

it sounds implausible to me you see for

04:35

it's a reality for us and a reality for

04:38

the FBI that says the plan was to get

04:42

her to Iran to stand trial it was the

04:45

same for jamshid Chad another Iranian

04:48

dissident who lived in Los Angeles for

04:51

two decades and created a website where

04:54

people in Iran could report human rights

04:58

abuses and 2020 while he was changing

05:01

planes in Dubai on a business trip his

05:04

family noticed his phone started heading

05:07

in the wrong direction his daughter

05:10

Jazelle Shad soon saw her dad pop up on

05:14

Iranian TV in a courtroom looking

05:17

petrified he's forced to confessions

05:20

about crimes he did not commit the

05:22

charge that they gave him is corruption

05:23

on Earth that's why he got the death

05:25

sentence is it a situation where he

05:29

could act actually be executed Oh yes

05:32

any day they want to hang him from a

05:34

crane in the middle of the city the

05:36

original plot to kidnap MSI was thwarted

05:40

but according to the FBI a year later in

05:44

2022 Iran paid this azer bani living

05:48

outside New York City

05:51

$30,000 to buy a semi-automatic rifle

05:54

and kill her he lurked outside her home

05:58

for a week his plan was to take

06:01

advantage of her friendliness to her

06:03

neighbors he was actually following my

06:07

life he knew that I was the one offering

06:11

flowers to strangers you offered flowers

06:14

to strangers yeah this is me so he

06:17

received the text message from the guy

06:19

inside Iran saying that go un knock the

06:22

door then take her to the backyard

06:24

garden if I had opened the door I would

06:27

have just given him a big smile smile

06:29

and say yes let's go to my garden and

06:32

then he wanted to just kill me did he

06:34

actually knock on your door yes her home

06:37

security camera actually caught him on

06:40

her porch trying to get in eventually he

06:43

took off but was pulled over for running

06:46

a stop sign that's when the police found

06:50

this in his car he's been in custody

06:53

awaiting trial ever since but here's

06:56

what's interesting neither he nor two

07:00

other men the prosecutors say were hired

07:02

for the job were

07:04

Iranian like him they were Eastern

07:07

European and as is becoming a trademark

07:10

of Iran Shadow War they were criminals

07:14

they were all from Criminal Syndicate

07:17

this is what the Islamic Republic is

07:19

really good at like using drug dealers

07:22

using criminals to do their dirty job on

07:27

the western soil it maybe have

07:28

deniability

07:29

exactly we didn't do it that's the point

07:32

so why do they use Praxis to have

07:35

somebody who is not being tracked by

07:38

intelligence or security agencies for

07:40

this Matt Jukes head of counterterrorism

07:43

policing in Britain says this is not

07:46

just an American problem in the UK they

07:49

have foiled 15 Iranian kidnapping and

07:53

assassination attempts since last year I

07:56

have been involved in National Security

07:58

policing for over 20 years what we've

08:01

seen in the last 18 months is a real

08:03

acceleration we have been told that a

08:06

lot of these criminal gangs hire other

08:08

criminal gangs and then maybe a third

08:11

group I think we're always going to see

08:13

this uh collaboration between criminal

08:16

organizations we know that this will not

08:19

always be a direct line from a state

08:22

organization to a threat to a potential

08:25

kidnapping this recording was given to

08:28

us by a foreign intelligence agency it

08:31

shows how Iran recruits

08:35

criminals I received a call from the

08:37

irgc the Revolutionary guard this is an

08:40

Iranian Smuggler from Heria a town near

08:44

the Turkish border he reveals to the

08:47

foreign agents that he was approached by

08:49

Iran's revolutionary guard with a deal

08:53

they'll turn a blind eye to his

08:55

smuggling if he helps them

09:00

their request was that I find people who

09:02

could work for them what kind of work

09:04

anything like catching someone for us so

09:07

they can be beaten up or gotten rid of

09:10

this surveillance video shows him

09:13

recruiting a fellow Smuggler for the

09:15

task the man in white is Mansa rasuli an

09:19

alleged drug dealer he agreed to arrange

09:23

assassinations throughout Europe for the

09:25

Iranian government for money but a few

09:29

Weeks Later rasuli was kidnapped at

09:32

night and interrogated in a car

09:35

reportedly by Israeli

09:37

intelligence they extracted this cell

09:40

phone confession where rasuli admits he

09:43

was paid

09:45

$150,000 up front and promised a million

09:49

dollar if he killed three people for the

09:53

Iranians one is an Israeli at the

09:56

embassy in Istanbul Turkey another one

09:58

is is an American General in

10:01

Germany and one is a journalist in

10:04

France the French Target was identified

10:07

as philosopher Bernard enri lvi a vocal

10:11

critic of the regime in

10:13

Terran the identity of the American

10:15

General remains a mystery the plot to

10:19

kill the three was prevented but in

10:22

recent years Iranian dissidents were

10:25

successfully kidnapped and smuggled to

10:28

Iran several were executed they've

10:31

succeeded in Europe they haven't

10:34

succeeded in the United States even

10:36

though we know there are targets right

10:39

so many American officials and others

10:42

are being targeted why is it not a

10:45

bigger issue look I think the targeting

10:47

of American citizens by a hostile

10:50

foreign government uh is very close to

10:52

an act of War what would happen if they

10:57

succeeded in Assassin ating Someone Like

11:00

You a well-known former

11:03

official well I wouldn't like to find

11:05

out uh for for myself or for the country

11:08

but why are we sitting here quietly

11:10

talking about this when they're in

11:13

effect uh saying they're going to commit

11:15

acts of war against American citizens on

11:18

American soil does the fact that Iran it

11:22

feels emboldened to come after our

11:25

citizens does it mean we've lost our

11:27

deterrence well I think we have lost

11:30

detor and I think this also goes to an

11:32

unwillingness on the part of the

11:34

administration to confront the IAS in a

11:37

way that they understand they can

11:39

challenge US Government on us soil

11:42

without any punishment then what's the

11:44

reason to there are sanctions against

11:46

them sanction is not sufficient sanction

11:49

is what do you want us to do drop a bomb

11:51

no look when you negotiate with the

11:56

killers you empowering them the Biden

11:59

Administration didn't respond to our

12:01

request for an interview the Islamic

12:03

Republic when masi alinad was called to

12:06

testify before Congress about Iran in

12:09

September she said that unless the

12:12

administration's policy changes her life

12:15

will continue to be in danger I believe

12:19

that when I'm not in the spotlight when

12:23

media like you are not paying attention

12:24

to me finally they going to come after

12:27

me while she now has has the freedom to

12:29

speak her mind in America she does not

12:32

have the freedom to live where she wants

12:36

masi and her family have had to go into

12:38

hiding under FBI protection it's like

12:42

wow the government from my own country

12:44

trying to kill me but my adopted country

12:48

trying to protect me you have to be an

12:51

Iranian to survive assassination plot to

12:55

understand that how it

12:57

feels to survive in America and to have

13:02

the platform and to criticize the US

13:05

government tearing up tell me why you're

13:08

tearing up because people in my country

13:10

get killed for

13:12

criticizing get shot in head for the

13:16

crime of

13:24

criticizing for more than 5 years

13:27

1,9 75 days American businessman immad

13:32

Shi was a prisoner of the Islamic

13:34

Republic of Iran he spent much of that

13:37

time in the country's most notorious

13:39

prison in a dreaded Ward run by Iran's

13:42

revolutionary guard last month Shi and

13:45

four other Americans were freed in a

13:47

complicated deal involving $6 billion

13:50

doll in restricted Iranian oil Revenue

13:53

the deal Drew criticism at the time for

13:56

granting Financial relief to a regime

13:58

the US government considers the world's

14:01

largest state sponsor of terrorism it

14:04

drew even more scrutiny after Hamas

14:07

which is financially supported by Iran

14:09

attacked Israel two weeks ago with more

14:12

than 200 hostages remaining in Gaza

14:15

including some Americans shi's ordeal is

14:18

a stark illustration of the difficulties

14:20

and perils involved in bringing American

14:23

citizens home this story um should have

14:27

never happened

14:29

but I didn't waste 5 and a half years

14:32

Margaret I learned a lot about myself

14:35

about Humanity about what is important

14:38

in life being thrown in a Cell It's the

14:41

closest you come to death and back then

14:44

Imad Shi is a dual citizen of the US and

14:47

Iran he left Iran at age 13 before the

14:51

1979 Islamic revolution in the US he

14:55

went to college met his wife bah and

14:58

started a business representing us

15:00

chemical companies in the Middle East

15:03

and later worked for private Equity Firm

15:05

in Abu Dhabi by 2016 with their

15:08

daughters off to college Imad and bah

15:11

who is also Iranian American decided to

15:14

travel to Iran and ReDiscover their

15:16

Roots Iran had just agreed to a landmark

15:20

deal to limit its nuclear development in

15:22

exchange for sanctions relief which made

15:25

Shi think the country was full of

15:27

opportunity his father thought otherwise

15:31

he said to me he said Amad you don't

15:33

know this country people like you will

15:36

duel nationalities they pick these

15:39

people up once in a while for whatever

15:41

use they have for

15:43

them and I said Dad give me a break you

15:46

know I've never been in the US

15:47

government

15:49

nothing and I guess if anybody asks me

15:52

in one

15:54

sentence what have you learned from this

15:57

experience I would say listen to your

16:00

dad the couple both in their 50s began

16:03

spending time in Iran Shi found work

16:07

Consulting for an Amsterdam based

16:08

company investing in Iranian businesses

16:12

was there anything that suggested to you

16:14

that you were a Target that there was

16:16

going to be a problem you know I thought

16:19

I have a better chance of getting hit

16:21

crossing the road by a motorbike when I

16:24

was there I did not see this

16:26

coming just past midnight on April 23rd

16:30

2018 about 15 armed agents showed up at

16:34

the family house in teron gentleman

16:37

walked in he said this is an arrest

16:39

warrant for you and for your wife on

16:41

what grounds he wouldn't tell me at the

16:43

time around 2:30 in the morning they

16:46

said okay get ready we are taking you

16:49

and my wife said no you can't take him

16:52

and they told her to sit down and mind

16:53

her business that they'll get to her

16:55

later what did that mean I didn't know

16:58

at the time so when they took me out of

17:00

that house I did not know what was going

17:03

to happen to my wife that's

17:06

terrifying yep it's not a position you

17:09

want to be in he was taken to a place in

17:12

Teran Iranians have long feared Evan

17:15

prison to a special Ward known as 2A run

17:19

by the Intelligence Division of the

17:21

Islamic revolutionary guard Corps they

17:23

took me to a room they told me to strip

17:26

naked they gave me some blue garbs they

17:29

told me this is the end of the line for

17:32

you and most likely you'll never see the

17:35

outside world from now on nobody will

17:38

address you by your name you're a code

17:40

now 97010 was my code that's

17:44

dehumanizing uh they are experts at that

17:46

and then hell starts torture threats of

17:50

torture and psychological torture they

17:53

take you to a very small room and then

17:56

they throw a j giant of a human being in

17:59

there who proceeds to hit you to push

18:02

you around to threaten to kill you and

18:05

then the good cop comes in and he says

18:08

look I can put a stop to this you just

18:11

need to confess confess to what they

18:14

said you have to confess that you are a

18:19

spy which is

18:21

ludicrous Shi says his interrogators

18:24

threatened him with electrical shocks

18:27

waterboarding and hanging

18:29

but never followed through so I realized

18:32

they don't want to damage their product

18:34

at that point product correct why do you

18:37

choose that word because that's what I

18:40

was you believe you were taken simply

18:43

because you were American to extract a

18:46

price correct he told us some

18:48

interrogations went on for 9 hours a day

18:52

what did you tell them during all those

18:53

hours of questioning I mean the most

18:56

mundane things the first day they kept

18:59

asking me why did you go to the White

19:02

House

19:04

church and I'm think to myself Queen I

19:07

know the White House doesn't have a

19:08

church and then it

19:10

clicked they had hacked my Facebook they

19:15

had seen the pictures of us attending my

19:18

daughter's events at school at the

19:20

National Cathedral they had no idea the

19:22

National Cathedral had nothing to do