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Three Americans Freed from Prison in Iran Now in Germany; Preview of Democratic Debate in Charleston, South Carolina; Israeli Leaders Vow to Closely Monitor Enforcement of Iran Deal; Cruz Subject of New York Daily News Front Page. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired January 17, 2016 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[15:00:14] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: All right. Hello again, everyone. And thanks so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We are hearing words that three of four Americans freed from prison in Iran may have arrived indeed in Germany. They left Tehran this morning on a Swiss jet from the long flight from the Persian Gulf to Switzerland. They touched down in Geneva shortly after 12:00 eastern time. That moment was the result of 14 months of intense, top-secret negotiations between the U.S. and Iran that had no guarantee of success for President Obama who spoke this morning. He says it's a huge relief.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My fellow Americans, today we're united in welcoming home sons and husbands and brothers who in lonely prison cells have endured an absolute nightmare. But they never gave in and they never gave up. At long last, they can stand tall and breathe deep the fresh air of freedom.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Covering these breaking developments for us, we have Chris Frates at the White House, Frederik Pleitgen at Ramstein air base in Germany. Let's go right to Fred Pleitgen who is at Ramstein. So, did they land there?

FRED PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That still is the question, Fredricka. There is no official confirmation yet from the base here in Ramstein or from the state department. However, what we saw, I would say about 30, maybe 35 minutes ago was a medical bus that was going towards the Landstuhl medical center here that is right next to the Ramstein air base. It was escorted by five or six vehicles of German police, base police, as well as military police. And what we had been gathering before from the base here was that that was the way that such a convoy would take place when these Americans arrived here.

So, again, no official confirmation yet, but it could very well be that the three Americans, Jason Rezaian, Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abadini, and of course the wife and the mother of Jason Rezaian could already be at the Landstuhl medical facility where, of course, they will be receiving medical checks almost immediately, medical treatment for anything. Of course, there were great health concerns, especially about the health of Jason Rezaian. There were reports he was not doing well while he was in detention in Iran. And then of course -- and of course probably most importantly they will also be reunited with some of their loved ones after such a very long time. Amir Hekmati, for instance, in detention for more than four years. So certainly some very emotional scenes will be playing out at the Landstuhl medical center.

WHITFIELD: And then, Fred, the fifth American, Matthew Trevithick, he left Iran on his own, as far as we understand. Do you know whether he had to come to Ramstein for any kind of medical checkup or, you know, processing before heading back to the U.S.?

PLEITGEN: There's no indication that he came here to Ramstein. There's also no indication that he was actually flown out on an official plane. It was interesting because the U.S. announced he had left Iran before any of the other three Americans left the country. And so therefore it could very well be that he might have left on a commercial flight.

His case also, we have to keep in mind, was not part of that official prisoner swap. So this was a case where the Iranians decided to release Matthew Trevithick, but this was not part of that prisoner swap.

And of course, Fredricka, we also have to note there was also one American who actually didn't get on this flight that took Jason Rezaian and the ores back here to Europe. The fourth American that was supposed to travel with them decided not to take that flight and from all we know still remains in Iran.

WHITFIELD: All right, Fred. Hold it right there. I want to go to Chris Frates at the White House because you now have confirmation?

CHRIS FRATES, CNN INVESTIGATION CORRESPONDENT: I do, Fred. A senior administration official telling us that the three Americans have in fact landed in Germany. That they are safe and sound. And we are getting news, as this breaking news, of course, Jason Rezaian, the "Washington Post" reporter, we know that Marty Baron and Doug Jehl, two editors from "the Washington Post," are in Germany to greet him. He took off with his wife and his mother. He has now arrived in Germany along with a pastor and a former marine, Fred.

WHITFIELD: OK. And what's your understanding now, Chris, of what would happen? We do know that Landstuhl medical facility is one that they will eventually be processed, but do you have any idea about the sequence of events that would happen and how long they might be in Germany?

FRATES: Well, certainly as Fred was pointing out, we're also told by the administration officials here that medical care will be first and foremost. That's the most important thing. They want to make sure that everybody checks out, that they get whatever medical attention they need. Of course, Jason Rezaian spent more than 500 days at the prison. That's one of the most notorious prisons in Iran. And they want to make sure, you know, we knew that he was having medical problems. He will certainly get checked out there. They will want to make sure everybody is OK. That's first and foremost. And then after they are processed, they will make their way back to the United States, Fred.

[15:05:08] WHITFIELD: OK.

And then, Fred, back to you there in Germany. It is customary that they would be processed there at Ramstein as well as receive that kind of medical care. And that would include Jason Rezaian who is also traveling with his mother and his wife. Would they also be getting the same kind of attention as far as you know?

PLEITGEN: Well, if think need it, I'm pretty sure they would be getting the same kind of attention as well. Certainly, they would be getting checked out if they felt that they had any ailments, if they felt that they needed any sort of medical treatment at all. I mean, we have to keep in mind, this is a very large medical center, one that is state of the art, one that has quite frankly some of the best doctors in the world. That's one that's been very prominent, especially since the U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of the wounded came through here. Bowe Bergdahl, for instance, who was kidnapped in Afghanistan, came through here as well.

This is the medical center that has some of the most experiences in dealing with cases exactly like this one, and the doctors there, I have done a couple of reports from that medical center, are absolutely amazing in the work that they do, in the work they do obviously with wounded soldiers, but also getting people back up to speed exactly after an ordeal like the one that Jason Rezaian. But, of course, also his immediate family, like his mother, like his wife will have faced while he was in detention.

WHITFIELD: Right. I can almost envision a lot of the high fives in, you know, circles across the country. And of course even at the White House, all those who are glad to hear confirmation now that those Americans are in U.S. custody at that U.S. base there in Germany.

All right. Thanks so much, Chris, Fred. We will check back with you.

So "the Washington Post" journalist Jason Rezaian is among the Americans who were on that plane who arrived there in Germany now and now about to get that medical treatment there at the Landstuhl medical facility there at the Ramstein air base. "The Washington Post" saying this, they are relieved the 545-day nightmare for Jason and his family is finally over. Two of the paper's editors spoke with our Brian Stelter in their first interview since their colleague was released.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN STELTER CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Marty Baron, the executive editor of the "Washington Post," and Doug Jehl, the foreign editor, join me now on the phone from Germany.

Marty, you are in Germany. Are you awaiting Jason Rezaian's arrival at your location? MARTY BARON, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, THE WASHINGTON POST (on the phone):

Yes, we are.

[14:10:02] STELTER: And you've been there standing by since Friday. When did you have a sense that this swap would actually happen?

BARON: Well, actually, first we went to Geneva and then we came to Germany. As to when we had a sense as to when this might happen, you know, several days ago we were hearing from our reporter who's been covering this that something might happen soon. And we also heard from certain contacts within Iran itself that there might be something imminent.

STELTER: So it wasn't the U.S. government tipping you off, telling you to get ready. It was one of your own reporters?

BARON: It was not the U.S. government telling us to get ready. It was our reporter doing her job covering national security and diplomatic relations who told us that the word that she was getting was something might happen soon.

STELTER: Doug, what are your emotions right now as you wait to see Jason Rezaian for the first time in over a year and a half?

DOUG JEHL, FOREIGN EDITOR, THE WASHINGTON POST (on the phone): I'm relieved, but I'm also elated. I remember the morning a year-and-a- half ago when a sketchy cell phone call told me Jason and his wife had been taken from their apartment the night before. We never could have believed that this nightmare would go on so long. But I'm just overjoyed that it's about to be over.

STELTER: Marty, I wonder if you ever had a sense, you ever had a fear that after 545 days maybe Jason would never be freed.

BARON: Well, I always held out hope that he would. I almost never say never. But I was certainly concerned that it would last a very long time. That was my primary concern. I always felt that he would be released eventually, but I was concerned that it could be many years.

STELTER: Doug, as a foreign editor, will any of your internal protocols change with regards to sending staffers to countries where something like this could happen? Will you send any correspondents to Iran in the future?

JEHL: I think we will have to take stock and discuss that as we learn from the lessons of Jason's experience and review what's happened. Clearly, the world has become more dangerous for foreign correspondents operating in places like Iraq and Syria where the threat tends to be from nongovernmental groups and operating in places like Iran and Egypt, where governments have acted with impunity and punishing journalists. We have taken steps to make sure we are protecting the security of our people and reassess those at all times. But whether we'll send a reporter to Iran, we just don't want to say.

[15:10:26] STELTER: Marty, I know "the Washington Post" is having a big celebration at the end of this month, big newsroom opening. Jeff Bezos, the owner, will be there, many other dignitaries will be there. Is there any possibility Jason could join you all for that occasion?

BARON: Well, we don't know. It would be great if he could. But the most important thing now is to make sure that Jason's health is good. That's going to take some time to evaluate. And then we want to know what he wants to do. We are not making arrangements for him. He is now a free man, thankfully. And he can make arrangements for himself.

STELTER: You know, foreign editor like Marty Baron, there's nothing tougher than having a reporter out overseas on assignment then having that person stuck in prison for this amount of time. That's why they are overjoyed that he is free today.

Fred, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Brian.

So as the Americans get closer to coming home on U.S. we are learning more about the Iranians that were released from American custody in this prisoner swap. We should note that the U.S. is not commenting on the names of these men until after the American prisoners have been fully processed.

But Iranian state-run media is reporting their names. All were previously convicted of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran. These offenses were nonviolent and were mostly crimes of conspiracy or illegal exports to name a few. One man was arrested in Maryland for conspiring to illegally provide satellite services to Iran. Another person in California attempted to purchase marine navigation equipment and illegally export it to Iran. And three men in Texas tried to illegally export high-tech microelectronics.

All right. Coming up, an American businessman who was held prisoner in solitaire confinement in Iran opens up about his life in captivity and what the released detainees must be going through now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:15:08] WHITFIELD: -- and now leased are now in U.S. custody at the Ramstein air base in Germany. And now we're getting our first image right here of Jason Rezaian there, meeting up with a special envoy Bret McGuirk. And we understand this tweet was right alongside that picture right there, tweeted out. Thrilled to see Jason Rezaian land safely in Geneva tonight after 18 months of unjust imprisonment in Iran.

So our first image once again of Jason Rezaian, now a free man after spending 545 days in Iran in prison there. Now he is released. He traveled with two Americans and his mother and wife from Tehran to Geneva, and now in Germany.

So once Rezaian and the other Americans are back on U.S. soil, we expect to learn much more about the circumstances of thirty incarcerations.

For some perspective now on that, let's bring in Ali Shakeri. He is an Iranian-American businessman one of four Americans detained by the Iranian government in 2007 and held in solitaire confinement for 140 days. Good to see you.

ALI SHAKERI, HELD IN SOLIDARITY CONFINEMENT IN IRAN: Good to see you, too. Thank you.

WHITFIELD: And while I must say that Jason Rezaian and others are not back in U.S. of A., they are considered to be kind of on U.S. soil when you are at a U.S. military installation abroad, and they are indeed in Germany. Let me just make it very clear on that. So now explain for us if you could what happened to you in a nutshell? What were you doing in Iran and what led to your arrest and detainment?

SHAKERI: Before we start, allow me to mention in this good day which is lieu of celebration of martin Luther King birthday, which is tomorrow, and this weekend is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I think my arrest and I'm pretty sure the seven Iranians her and five American- Iranians in Iran was on the base of misunderstanding, mistrust, and bring misrepresentation. I'm so happy with all of my heart when I see those seven and five from that side going back to their family and to ordinary life.

Coming to me, I'm trying to put it in the past, because past is -- past is past. It's history. I'm trying to not think about the future, which is a mystery. I'm trying to build up on today, which is a gift. That's why they call it the present. And Martin Luther King taught me that unfortunately, there is misunderstanding and hate come from unknowing and unknowing come from lack of communication.

I'm so happy to see this giant leap through peace and dialogue is creating this kind of release. And I know how their family gone through. All my family gone through hell emotionally, financially, socially, and still we are in the process of going up and giving up the PTSD.

WHITFIELD: And I completely understand what you're saying because you try not to dwell on the past and your experience, but perhaps while you were in confinement, just as today you would like to think about the future, what were you envisioning with your future when you were in confinement? Was it hard for you to even envision that you might be freed?

SHAKERI: Three things was bothering me deeply. One was harsh interrogation, the other one was loneliness, and the last one was uncertainty. Honestly on those moments when I was in 2 x 3 yard cell, I didn't know what's going to happen to me, 114 days of my 140 days confinement was in solitaire confinement. But still I was as a peace activist, as a member and associated with the center for citizen peace building in UCI, I had been practicing and making peace and building peace, and that gave me hope to always think about future. But honestly, when those days, sometimes I was thinking, how am I going to be released? I didn't know. WHITFIELD: And now, you know, looking to the future, if you were able

to offer some advice to these Americans who won their release, Jason Rezaian, Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abadini, you know, and Nosratoliah Khoswari, as well as Matthew Trevithick, what do you tell them and how do you prepare them to deal with what they are likely to experience, PTSD, just like you did?

[15:20:00] SHAKERI: And also among the names you mentioned some of the names on the other side because I want to include all of those 12 as a part of this agony and hope they're going to come back to their life. What I could tell is think about the life, think about the life, and think about the life. Think about the family around you. Think about the life, the love they are offering you, and those days honestly to myself when I was thinking sometimes to do something to harm myself, I was thinking about my family and my friends are waiting for me.

I'm pretty sure enjoyment of the life and especially the ability they could have to meet it in their own lives is going to help them. The only thing I could tell them, just think about why you've been arrested. It was part of not your fault, it was part of the misunderstanding and mistrust. And I'm so happy to see giant leap in the step toward peace, human rights, and democracy.

In Middle East and Iran, believe me, I don't want to advocate politics. I don't want to get involved between Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberals, hard-liners from this side or that side. But this is joyful, hopeful for both countries, more than those 12 guys, I would advise this two great nations to start thinking about the future, how they could do it. Without U.S. relation, Iran cannot lead and survive as a big nation, as one of the great nation with 80 million, cannot live in isolation. Has to be part of the whole and without Iran, U.S. cannot hope any peace in Middle East. We have to have Sunnis-Arab, we have to have the Iranians, we have to have Israel, we have Americans, every world to get involve to get rid of the terrorism and rid of this agony.

WHITFIELD: All right.

SHAKERI: I'm pretty sure when these 12 people see that, those steps happening, is going to help them forget about their past and think about the future.

WHITFIELD: All wonderful advice. We'll leave it right there.

Ali Shakeri, thank you so much for your time. Appreciate it. And your insights. Appreciate it.

SHAKERI: Thank you so much for having me.

WHITFIELD: Coming up, we are turning to politics and Bernie Sanders talking today about the member of Clinton family that is disappointing him. It's not Hillary or Bill, but Chelsea. Hear why, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [15:25:24] WHITFIELD: Democratic presidential candidates' debate in South Carolina tonight. Their fourth face-off of the campaign and the last one before the Iowa caucuses. It comes just at a new national poll shows Hillary Clinton with a solid lead over Bernie Sanders. The poll from NBC and the "Wall Street Journal" shows Clinton with a 25- point national lead. Both candidates were on "STATE OF THE UNION" with Jake Tapper and Clinton defended how her daughter, Chelsea, characterized Sanders' health care plan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: For years you've been very protective of your daughter, Chelsea Clinton, especially when she was a child, of course, and now she's a grown woman. This week she surprised a lot of people when she unleashed one of the most scathing attacks of the cycle accusing Bernie Sanders of wanting to empower Republican governors who might then cut people's health care. Politicfact called Chelsea's remarks mostly false. Former Obama advisor David Axelrod said it was not an honest attack. And liberal columnist Mark Shields said the attack turned your daughter into a quote "political hack." Do you think it was a mistake to muddy up Chelsea like that?

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Look, she was asked a question. I love my daughter. And she answered a question. And all I can say, Jake, is that the only health plan we know of from senator Sanders is what's described in the legislation that he has introduced nine times in the Congress, in the Senate, and it does turn all of the program we know of that provide health care over the state. The federal government would provide a big portion of the cost, but states would be mandated to also pay considerably, about 14 percent of the cost. That's what's in his bill so, I think anyone who wants to compare and contrast, since we don't have any more current plan from senator Sanders, has to look at the legislation that he introduced.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. So also today, Bernie Sanders explained why he objected to Chelsea Clinton's description of his health care plan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I was a little disappointed that what Chelsea said was simply not accurate. The issue that she was raising is that in Republican conservative states a Medicare for all bill would not be implemented. That's not accurate. If a state does not go forward under my 2013 legislation, the federal government steps in.

Bottom line here, Jake, is the United States is the only major country on earth that does not guarantee health care for all people, and yet we spend much, much more per capita on health care than do the people of other count countries and we still have 29 million people uninsured and many more underinsured. So, yes, I will continue the vision of FDR, of Harry Truman. I believe health care is a right for all people. It will be politically difficult to achieve, but I will maintain that vision and fight for it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. So let's talk more about all of this. With me now from the scene of tonight's Democratic debate in Charleston, South Carolina, Jeff Weaver, who is Bernie Sanders' campaign manager.

Tonight, another big chance for Sanders to try to cut into Clinton's national lead. Good to see you. How much time do you suppose Mr. Sanders is going to take in trying to kind of lay it all out there on where he is on his medical plan, especially when miss Clinton again today reiterated she wants to support the affordable care act if not make it better if elected president?

JEFF WEAVER, CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: Look, it has been the vision of great Democrats since FDR, Harry Truman, LBJ, to create universal health care in this country. Sen. Sanders is trying to achieve the original healthcare. He fought hard and worked on and supported the affordable care act, and that was a critically important achievement on the road to universal health care. There is no doubt about that. But there is still work to be done, and that's the work that senator Sanders is trying to do, to create a single-payer, Medicare for all, a program that will lower the cost of healthcare in this country by trillions of dollars, take that load off our economy, and also save families thousands and thousands of dollars every year by eliminating private health insurance premiums, co-payments, and deductibles.

So I think there will be a lot of discussion about this because I think this is a really big difference between the candidates. You can have a candidate like Bernie Sanders who stands to try to fulfill the legacy of FDR or do you have a more corporate sort of centrist vision that I think the democratic base is really sort of rejecting already?

[15:30:02] WHITFIELD: And it is to be expected the gun debate is going to come up, especially this happening in Charleston, South Carolina with the backdrop of what happened at the Mother Emmanuel church. And it was Hillary Clinton, even today on the Sunday talk shows, who is now calling Bernie Sanders a flip-flopper as it pertains to taking up the NRA and trying to strengthen certain rules as it pertains to gun ownership. What is Bernie Sanders willing or prepared to do to I guess set the record straight on his position on guns?

WEAVER: Well, look. We have set the record straight many times. The fact the Clinton campaign says that is the case, does that make it the case, frankly. Sen. Sanders has a strong record on gun safety legislation. He has supported assault weapons bans since 1988, supported background checks since 1991, supported closing the gun show loop pole, supported getting rid of high-capacity magazines, wants to improve our mental health treatment systems so people who are homicidal or suicidal can get the care they need in a timely manner. So he has a strong, strong record.

The secretary objects to a couple of his votes on the issue of gun liability. He has said for many, many months now that he is open to relooking at it. There is new legislation that apparently is going to be introduced in the Congress. He has expressed his support for that legislation. And the Clinton campaign is not happy about that, but it's not our job to make them happy.

WHITFIELD: Is Bernie Sanders feeling particularly vulnerable in South Carolina when at least the most recent poll in December shows that, you know, Hillary Clinton has huge support, yet at the same time polls show Bernie Sanders doing very well in New Hampshire and Iowa?

WEAVER: Well, look, the truth of the matter is that the more people see and hear from Senator Bernie Sanders, the more they like him. So when we started this campaign, he was most popular in New Hampshire where the next door state to Vermont and many people in New Hampshire had seen him on television for many years. We've now gone to Iowa. He's been the Iowa many, many times, far more than in South Carolina. We are running television advertisements there. And people in Iowa have gotten to know him and the polls are essentially tied.

And I think as we go down the calendar and as we come and spend more time in South Carolina and start running advertising in South Carolina, that the numbers in South Carolina will move as well, because when people learn about Bernie Sanders and get to hear from him and meet him in person, they move to him.

WHITFIELD: All right. Jeff Weaver, thank you so much. Good to see you.

WEAVER: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: And good luck tonight.

All right. Don't miss CNN's special coverage after the debate tonight. Our political team will break it all down for us and analyze how the candidates did on stage in Charleston, South Carolina. Our coverage begins 11:00 p.m. eastern right here on CNN.

All right. Coming up, Israel's prime minister isn't mincing words about the Iranian nuclear deal. He says Iran will now have more resources to dedicate to terrorism.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:35:56] WHITFIELD: Welcome back. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

More now on our breaking news. The very fist in "the Washington Post" reporter Jason Rezaian since his released from an Iranian prison. A plane carrying Rezaian and two other freed American prisoners arrived in Germany in the last half hour in Germany. These images right here were tweeted out. Here's Rezaian on the tarmac during a stop in Geneva after the private plane took him from Tehran to Geneva along with the two other American prisoners who were released. Rezaian spent 545 days behind bars in Iran. Rezaian's childhood friend calling his 18 months imprisonment a harrowing ordeal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I just can't wait to see him again. I mean, as soon as I can I will. I posted every single day on Facebook and twitter. I couldn't live my life every day knowing that that was happening to him. I had to do something.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So Rezaian and four other men were released as part of that prisoner swap that happened just as the nuclear deal between Iran, the U.S., and five other world powers officially took effect with Iran meeting the first requirements of that agreement.

CNN international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson is live for us now in Vienna where that landmark nuclear deal was reached this summer.

So, Nic, we know they are now at the U.S. air base in Germany. What is your understanding about what will be next for them?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, they will be reunited with family members that they haven't seen for so long. There will be, we understand, members of "the Washington Post" there, their managerial team. They are waiting to greet Jason Rezaian as well.

But most importantly for them, the help that will get them through the transition from being in one of the most feared jails in Iran for periods of detention that they knew were stretching on for years ahead of them and the thought that any moment there was a potential to be beaten, for torture, this prison in Tehran has such a bad international reputation among human rights observers.

So they will get to the base there in Germany. They will begin to get physical check overs to make sure they are physically in good shape, that their diets haven't -- jail diets haven't had a negative impact on them, that they are not suffering any diseases. But they will also get some sort of counseling, if you will, psychological counseling, at least first assessments, conversations with professionals who are familiar with this.

Of course Amir Hekmati, a marine for four years, 2001 to 2005, he will be back on a military base. He'll be sort of familiar with the surroundings there to a degree perhaps more than the others.

But this is going to be for them a process of help, of sort of recuperation, and an analysis to see how much they deteriorated and what sort of -- what can be done to bring them back into normal life. They have been through a very, very tough time. The jail they were in is not just any other jail. They were jailed by -- in a country that the rest of the world recognizes does not treat its prisoners to international standards. So this is the next few days for them very likely will be to begin to assess what kind of health to get them back to normal lives again.

WHITFIELD: Yes. They have to really cross examine what they need at this point.

All right. Nic Robertson, thank you so much in Vienna. All right. Israel is one of the U.S. allies that is not so happy with

the nuclear deal and lifting of sanctions on Iran. Israeli leaders are vowing to closely monitor enforcement of the deal and flag any Iranian violations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been a vocal critic of any negotiations with Iran. Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting this morning, Netanyahu repeated his contention that the deal will strengthen and embolden Iran, leading to more instability, he says, in the region.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[15:40:00] BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Were it not for our efforts to spearhead the sanctions and foil Iran's nuclear program, Iran would have already had nuclear weapons long ago. Israel's policy was and remains exactly the same -- do not let Iran achieve nuclear weapons. It is clear that from now on Iran will have more means to use for its terror and aggressive activity in the region and in the world and Israel is ready to cope with any threat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Let's now go to CNN international correspondent Oren Liebermann live from Jerusalem with more on the reaction to this deal, the release of the prisoner, and the start of this nuclear deal - Oren.

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There's been very little at this point on the lease of the prisoners. We asked Prime Minister Netanyahu about that a few days ago and he made a simple, short, perhaps political statement saying he's glad that the American prisoners will be on their way home.

On the Iran deal, however, as usual has been usual for the past year or so, he had plenty to say but his message has been different. So far essentially up until now he has been a very outspoken critic using very harsh language, very harsh rhetoric against this deal.

Now, essentially it's different. Instead of criticizing the deal itself he says now that the deal is a fact it is incumbent because the obligation of the P5+1 and the IAEA to make sure Iran sticks to and follows the conditions of the deal. He says Israel will be monitoring and Israel will warn the rest of the world if Iran violates the conditions of that deal. He says if that happens he expects the P5+1, perhaps America most of all and the IAEA to renew sanctions and to make sure Iran stays in compliance. He says Iran is still trying to get a nuclear weapon and he warns of Iran's destabilizing force in the region.

So it's the same criticism we've seen but now instead of criticizing the deal itself he is focusing on making sure the international community sticks to and makes sure Iran -- or make sure the community monitors Iran moving forward with this deal. So a bit of a measured response now that Netanyahu knows very well that the deal is a fact. WHITFIELD: All right. Oren Liebermann, thank you so much, in

Jerusalem.

And now this just in and we are learning from a senior security official in Baghdad telling CNN that three American contractors went missing in Iraq. This happened just two days ago. And I'm quoting now, this official, who we can only say is a senior security official in Baghdad, saying that a company filed a report Sunday about three of its staff going missing two days ago. They are American contractors. We are looking into this report.

And of course we don't have any further details on it, but of course when we do get it. The U.S. state department says it is working with Iraqi authorities to locate and recover these missing individuals, saying this, quote, "we are aware of reports that American citizens are missing in Iraq. The safety and security of American citizens overseas is our highest priority. We are working with the full cooperation of the Iraqi authorities to locate and recover the individuals," end quote. That coming from the state department spokesperson John Kirby.

We'll continue to follow that.

Meantime, coming up, Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz now not at all backing down on his comments about New York values. And he is trying to use Donald Trump's own words against him.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:46:41] WHITFIELD: All right. Now to the presidential race and the backlash over Sen. Ted Cruz's comment on Donald Trump and New York Values. "The New York Daily News" made Cruz the subject of their front page on Friday telling them to quote "drop dead, Ted."

This morning, Cruz continued his attack on Donald Trump, doubling down on his controversial comments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He explained that his views were that he was very pro-choice, he supported partial birth abortion, he was open to gay marriage, and his explanation for all the of that, he said, I'm a New Yorker, I'm from Manhattan. Those are the views of New York. Those are what New York values are. They're not Iowa values, but that's New York values.

And so, that was Donald's own explanation of what New York values are. It's how he articulated it. And it strikes me as curious now that he is displaying such outrage that anyone would even acknowledge that there is a particular political view. And I would point out, it's a view echoed by far-left, liberal Democratic politicians like Andrew Cuomo, like Bill de Blasio, like Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump has supported those candidates and supported their positions on a lot of issues.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: All right. Let's talk more about this with Katrina Pearson. She is the national spokeswoman for the Trump campaign. And Tharon Johnson, he is a former southern regional director for President Obama's campaign 2012. All right. Good to see both of you.

KATRINA PEARSON, NATIONAL SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN: Hi, thank you.

THARON JOHNSON, FORMER SOUTHERN REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN 2012: Good to see you.

WHITFIELD: All right, Katrina, you first. What is the Trump campaign strategy on handling Cruz's remarks? I know he is trying to kind of set the record straight, but is it to Donald Trump's advantage to keep it alive or is it to Ted Cruz's advantage to keep it alive?

PEARSON: Well, I think it's going to depend on both individuals. I mean, Senator Cruz didn't say New York liberal values. He just said New York values and that's really what has struck a chord with so many people. You're not going to be able to win a general election by alienating everyone except evangelical Christian. And I think it's interesting because Donald Trump actually has a broad coalition of whether it's independents, evangelicals, tea parties, and even disenfranchised Democrats. But when it comes to values specifically, Senator Cruz is talking about things that Donald Trump had believed in 17 years ago, when 17 years ago Senator Cruz was a Canadian.

WHITFIELD: Boy. OK. So, Tharon, where is this going?

JOHNSON: I think what you're seeing is sort of a really call from Ted Cruz to say, listen, let's be a little more presidential, because you remember, six months, 12 months ago it was a rat race, who could be the meanest, who could be the toughest against Obama, and who could really say the most outlandish things because they knew that there was a very angry right.

WHITFIELD: And now it's more so against each other, perhaps the strategy to kind of whittle down the competition. But then who was is best serving?

JOHNSON: Well, you know what, I think it's presenting opportunity for Rubio. I think it's also presenting opportunity for Christie. I mean, if you look at the polls in Iowa, New Hampshire, those are the two that are really kind of climbing. But look. This is a different Trump that we are seeing right now. I mean, if you look at him today, he's not as confidence. There's sort of a nervous energy about him. And so, I think Ted Cruz has picked up on a little bit of that.

WHITFIELD: Katrina, is that what we are seeing? I mean, if that's the translation to some, that Donald Trump is seemingly less assertive, less aggressive, does he seem like he's a little nervous?

[15:50:00] PEARSON: No, not at all. I mean, this is not the first time Donald Trump has ever gone back and forth with anybody. I think we can all know that. But I think what's happening here specifically is you have had two candidates that have sort of been, you know, on the same team for quite some time but only one candidate can win. This is what happens when we get closer to Iowa, closer to New Hampshire. Donald Trump is not nervous. I mean, Senator Cruz has been out there attacking him in the media. And so he is going back just alike.

WHITFIELD: All right. This is Donald Trump this morning with Jake Tapper.

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TRUMP: I have great relationship with God. I have great relationship with evangelicals. In fact, nationwide, I'm up by a lot. I'm leading everybody. But I like to be good. I don't like to have to ask for forgiveness. And I am good. I try to do nothing that's bad. I live a very different life than probably a lot of people would think.

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WHITFIELD: So Katrina, why is it so important for Donald Trump to really kind of lay down, you know, the groundwork for he and religion, his relationship with God? Is this his way of going after the Ted Cruz, you know, supporters or is this something else?

PEARSON: No, I think this is because he's being attacked from that side. I mean, one of the insinuations from the Cruz line of attack is that there are no moral values in New York, and Senator Cruz has no problem taking money from New York. He has no problem taking money from pro-gay marriage individuals. And so, I think it's a little disingenuous to go that line and that's why Donald Trump is talking about it.

WHITFIELD: But then, Tharon, at the same time, is it a little risky because we are talking about, you know, Donald Trump, you know, saying Seventh Day Adventists, I don't know what that is, you know. And I don't know too many, you know, evangelicals from Cuba. And then, of course, you know the comments about Muslims. So, you know, what's the interpretation here about how he can use or how he wants to use religion to his advantage?

JOHNSON: I don't think it is going to be well for him at all. I mean, this is America. I mean, we are built off of religious freedom. And so, when you make any type of comments that can discriminate or basically talk bad about any religion, I think it's not very presidential.

But one of the things is I also want to talk about with Donald Trump. I think you are also now, when Ted Cruz says let's be a little more presidential, let's be a little more calm, it's just not for Donald Trump. It is all about of the candidates that are in the race. And I think the problem with the GOP right now is they got to ask themselves a question, do we want someone like Donald Trump and now Ted Cruz who really doesn't have a lot of parameters when he talks to the American people to be our nominee in November? And I think that's a hard question that the Iowa voters are going to have to answer.

WHITFIELD: All right. Katrina, real quick, last word on that. Really quick.

PEARSON: Do we really want to keep the same old milquetoast candidates that stands for nothing? The answer is no. And that is why Donald Trump has been saying.

WHITFIELD: OK. Katrina Pearson, Tharon Johnson, thanks to both of you. Appreciate it.

PEARSON: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. We will be right back.

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[15:55:50] WHITFIELD: All right, taking a leap of faith off a skyscraper, cliff or bridge with just a parachute or a wing suit to glide you down to earth. Well, it's an extreme sport called base jumping. And it's featured in a new CNN film premiering tonight called "sunshine superman." it profiles the father of base jumping Carl Banish. Take a look.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Carl was an innovator. Probably the only one in Hollywood or the area that's known for free fall photographer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Background of Carl Banish and his films, Carl Banish's early start. He has been able to put off going back to work two months at a time such that for over the last ten years he has never had to go back to work. And is accustomed to making film payments opposed to car payments. As it worked out in the past Carl Banish usually spends about two years to make one 15-minute film.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you were jumping with banish, it was expected that you were going to be wearing a helmet mounted camera or possibly two. That was Carl's main focus was to share the wealth, to share the feeling with people that didn't understand it. That thought we were actually crazy to do something like this. But once you see it and see the beauty of it, people tend to understand the motive.

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WHITFIELD: Breathtaking? Don't miss "Sunshine Superman" tonight at 9:00 eastern here on CNN.

So much more straight ahead at the NEWSROOM and it all starts at the top of the hour.

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