By Blessing Nweke
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that an American citizen detained in Iran since December 2024 has been released and is safely out of the country, describing the move as a “gesture of goodwill” by Tehran amid heightened tensions between the two nations.
Trump shared the news on his Truth Social platform, saying the woman had been “wrongfully detained” and was now in good condition. While he did not initially identify her, attorney Jared Genser later confirmed that the released American is Dena Karari, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen.
Genser said Karari is traveling back to the United States after being prevented from leaving Iran during a family visit in late 2024. He credited the Trump administration’s sustained diplomatic efforts for securing her release and thanked officials who worked on the case.
According to previous reports, Karari worked for a U.S. technology company and operated a charity supporting underprivileged children in Iran. She was initially barred from leaving the country before later facing espionage charges following the escalation of conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The announcement comes as Washington and Tehran remain locked in a period of severe military and diplomatic confrontation. The United States has recently carried out additional strikes on Iranian targets, while Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks on U.S. interests in the region.
Despite the ongoing hostilities, analysts say the release could signal a limited effort by Iran to ease tensions or create space for future diplomatic engagement. Tehran has previously released foreign detainees during periods of heightened international negotiations, although no official Iranian statement on Karari’s release was immediately available.
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