Photo: Alamy
An American woman who had been detained in Iran for more than a year on espionage charges has returned to the United States, her attorney announced Saturday.
Dena Karari, an Iranian-American dual citizen, arrived in San Francisco after spending 566 days in Iranian custody. A photo shared by her attorney showed her wearing an American flag over her shoulders after landing.
“Welcome home Dena Karari from Iran to the land of the free and the home of the brave— after 566 days wrongly detained by the Iranian regime,” human rights attorney Jared Genser wrote on X. “THANK YOU to all who made this day possible, known and unknown. We must now redouble our efforts to get all the other Americans out!”
Karari was arrested by Iranian authorities in December 2024 on espionage charges, according to previous reports. Before her detention, she worked for a U.S. technology company and operated a charity serving children in Iran.
Although Iranian authorities later released her from prison, they confiscated both of her passports, preventing her from leaving the country until this week.
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Iran had allowed Karari to depart the country, describing the move as a “gesture of goodwill.”
“Iran has allowed an American Citizen, who was wrongfully detained in December of 2024 under the ‘presidency’ of Sleepy Joe Biden, to leave the Country,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition,” he added. “The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!”
Genser previously identified the woman, thanking President Trump for his help to free her.
“I am delighted and excited to report that my client U.S. citizen #DenaKarari, who had been trapped in #Iran since December 2024 on bogus charges is now free,” Genser posted to X.
“This would not have happened but for the extraordinary and relentless efforts of President @realDonaldTrump. Dena is now safe and traveling back to the United States,” he added.
