Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Iran has released an American woman who he said had been wrongfully detained since 2024.
In a post on Truth Social, the president said the woman, whose identity was not immediately disclosed, is no longer in Iran and is in good condition.
“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.
“She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition. The United States of America appreciates this gesture of goodwill by Iran!” he added.
Neither the White House nor the State Department immediately released additional information about the woman’s identity or the allegations that led to her detention.
Human rights lawyer Jared Genser later identified the woman as Dena Karari.
“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.”
The announcement came as fighting between the United States and Iran resumed after negotiations aimed at extending a ceasefire broke down.
The two countries had previously agreed to a 60-day extension of a ceasefire through a memorandum of understanding signed last month. That agreement unraveled after Iran attacked a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. officials.
Since then, President Trump has ordered renewed military operations against Iran, saying repeated exchanges of fire had undermined diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
The president characterized Iran’s decision to release the American detainee as a positive step despite the continuing hostilities between the two countries.