6 Americans detained in Iran face ‘unprecedented danger’

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🗓️ 16 April 2026

⏱️ 23 minutes

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Summary

Amid a shaky ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, six Americans detained in Iran are in danger, advocates say. Former U.S. hostage envoy Roger Carstens explains what it will take to bring them home.

Then, stock traders are remaining optimistic about a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran. The S&P 500 hit a record high this week. MS NOW’s Ali Velshi offers an analysis of the market.

And, living costs are rising across the board, and saving for retirement or emergencies is becoming increasingly hard for many Americans. Labor economist Kathryn Anne Edwards details what the government could do to create a nation of savers.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	WBUR Podcasts, Boston.
0:07.2	They have a few Americans, we believe a total of six.
0:10.5	They're holding them to whenever it's appropriate for them to try to use them as leverage against us.
0:16.7	Several Americans face what advocates call unprecedented danger as detainees in Iran.
0:31.2	It's Thursday, April 16th, and this is here and now anytime from NPR and WBWR Boston.
0:38.2	I'm Shiko Tha Uri.
0:40.8	Today on the show, the S&P 500 hit a new record this week, as traders remain optimistic about a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran.
0:50.1	And fewer than half of all Americans have $1,000 saved up in case of an emergency.
0:55.8	Why aren't we able to save more?
0:57.9	There's lots of great policies to turn America into a country of savers.
1:02.1	We have them.
1:03.3	We know they're successful.
1:04.6	We do not implement them.
1:06.3	But first, there are new signs of diplomacy after almost seven weeks of war in the Middle East. President
1:13.1	Trump has announced that Israel and Lebanon will begin a 10-day ceasefire at 5 p.m. Eastern time today.
1:19.9	Meanwhile, Pakistan's army chief is in Tehran to try to extend a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran,
1:25.8	but there's no date for the next round of talks. In the midst of this conflict, at least six Americans are being held in Iran, according to detainee advocates, and their future could be tied to what happens at the negotiating table. Roger Carstens knows this well. He served as the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for hostage affairs under
1:46.2	President Trump and Biden and helped bring home more than 60 Americans held by foreign
1:51.7	governments and armed groups around the world. Here's his conversation with Lisa Mullins.
1:57.0	Before we get to the diplomacy, who are the Americans being held right now? And do you know how long they've been held?
2:04.7	Yeah, so we have two Americans that really pop up right on the list. There's Reza Valzetta, and he's been held for since last September.
2:13.6	He is an interesting gentleman. He was a dual American, Iranian citizen who went back to visit his parents.
	...

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