Obama Scolds Reporter For Asking If He's 'Content' With Four Americans Imprisoned in Iran

U.S. President Barack Obama shot back at a White House correspondent on Wednesday when the reporter asked the Commander-in-Chief if he was "content" with the four Americans imprisoned in Iran following the recent nuclear arms deal.

The reporter, Major Garrett, who is the chief White House correspondent for CBS News, asked the president during a press conference on Wednesday if he was "content" with the nuclear arms deal despite the four Americans still imprisoned in Iran.

"As you well know, there are four Americans in Iran, three held on trumped-up charges, according to your administration, one whereabouts unknown," Garrett asked. "Can you tell the country, sir, why you are content with all the fanfare around this deal to leave the conscience of this nation, the strength of this nation unaccounted for in relation to these four Americans?"

The president replied by saying:  "I've got to give you credit Major for how you craft those questions."

"The notion that I'm content as I celebrate with American citizens languishing in Iranian jails [...] Major, that's nonsense, and you should know better."

"Nobody is content, and our diplomats and our teams are working diligently to try to get them out," Obama continued. "Now, if the question is why we did not tie the negotiations to their release, think about the logic that that creates. Suddenly Iran realizes, 'You know what? Maybe we can get additional concessions out of the Americans by holding these individuals."

"And, by the way, if we had walked away from the nuclear deal, we'd still be pushing them just as hard to get these folks out," Obama added. "That's why those issues are not connected, but we are working every single day to try to get them out and won't stop until they are out and rejoined with their families."