President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran has freed an American citizen detained in the country for more than a year, calling the release a gesture of goodwill from Tehran.
The woman, identified as Dena Karari, is a dual US-Iranian citizen who was barred from leaving Iran after visiting family there in December 2024. "She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition," Trump posted on Truth Social, adding that the United States appreciated Iran's action.
Karari's lawyer, Jared Genser, confirmed her release on social media, saying she is "now safe and traveling back to the United States." Genser credited the president's efforts with securing her freedom, describing them as "extraordinary and relentless."
The case had become increasingly complicated after the US and Israel conducted military strikes on Iran in 2025. Following those operations, Iranian authorities charged Karari with espionage, according to reporting from that period. Her work at an American technology company and her charitable efforts in Iran, where she ran an organization supporting underprivileged children, appear to have drawn scrutiny from the Iranian government.
Trump's announcement came as the administration continued military action against Iran, suggesting the release may have been negotiated as part of broader tensions between the two countries.
Genser, a human rights lawyer known for his work freeing prisoners of conscience, has secured the release of more than 340 political detainees from 20 countries over the past two decades. His involvement in Karari's case reflected the complexity of her situation and the diplomatic effort required to resolve it.
Author James Rodriguez: "The timing of this announcement alongside continued strikes on Iran raises questions about what else may have changed hands in negotiations, and whether other Americans remain trapped in Iranian custody."
Comments