5 released Americans from Iran are on their way to the US

Five Americans unfairly imprisoned in Iran for years were released Monday as part of a prisoner exchange pact that offers Tehran $6 billion in oil income frozen under U.S. sanctions.

A aircraft carrying five Americans and two relatives landed in Qatar, which facilitated the transfer.

Qatari and U.S. officials received the Americans on the tarmac after they descended from the plane in Doha. Former detainees Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, and Emad Shargi walked arm-in-arm.

A few hours later, the liberated Americans boarded a government jet for Washington, D.C.

The accord was expected to release five Iranian nationals in U.S. custody.

Republicans in Washington attacked the arrangement days before the Americans were released, calling it a “ransom” payment that would encourage Iran to detain more foreigners. Republicans also slammed a 2015 Obama administration deal that gave Iran access to banned funds and freed Americans in Iran as a concession to Tehran.