Yahoo TV

STORY: Five Americans freed from Iran made an emotional return to the United States on Tuesday (September 19), ending what one family member called a "nightmare."

It comes a day after they were swapped for five Iranians held in the U.S., and $6 billion worth of Iranian funds were unfrozen.

After disembarking, the returning detainees were embraced by family and friends with smiles and laughter.

Babak Namazi spoke with his arm around his returning brother, Siamak at Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

“This is the real hero of this story, surviving eight years of brutal treatments but never, never losing hope and showing what happens when you're hopeful, when you fight. Why am I saying this here? It's over. I'm done."

“We are so grateful. It's just you feel like it's a dream. The nightmare is finally over. I've dreamt about this moment, and each time I've woken up and just been in disbelief, like, why am I dreaming? These dreams are not happening again.”

The other U.S.-Iranian dual citizens include Emad Sharqi and Morad Tahbaz.

Two of those returning have not been publicly identified.

The swap was agreed on Monday following months of Qatar-mediated talks, after funds that had been blocked in South Korea were wired to banks in Doha.

After the transfer, the five U.S. prisoners took off on a Qatari plane from Tehran.

Meanwhile, two of the five Iranian detainees landed in Doha, also on their way home.

Reza Sarhangpour, now back in Iran, was one of them.

"Begging diplomacy in front of America has never worked, and this dignified method (prisoners swap) has made us (Iran's nation) proud."

Three Iranians chose not to go to back to Iran.

The deal removes a point of friction between the U.S. and Iran.

But it is unclear whether it will bring the two adversaries, which have been at odds for 40 years, closer on any other issues.

Major points of contention include Iran's nuclear program and its backing for regional militias, U.S. military presence in the Gulf, and U.S. sanctions.

U.S. President Joe Biden, a democrat who welcomed the return of the prisoners in a statement, has faced criticism from Republicans over the deal.

Some say the transfer of the $6 billion could encourage Iran to detain more U.S. citizens.

But Biden aides say the money belongs to Iran, and is being transferred to restricted Qatari accounts.

Doha says it will monitor the cash to ensure Iran spends the money on humanitarian goods, not items under U.S. sanctions.