A U.S. citizen held in Iran since 2024 has been released. President Donald Trump and the released individual’s lawyer announced this on Wednesday evening.
Trump stated on Truth Social that Iran allowed the American citizen, wrongfully detained in December 2024, to leave. He credited this release to a “gesture of Goodwill by Iran”. Trump appreciated this move and confirmed that the citizen is now safely outside Iran and in good condition.
Jared Genser, a human rights lawyer known for his work on cases of U.S. citizens detained in Iran, identified the released citizen as Dena Karari, his client. Genser expressed his delight over her release on X, crediting the relentless efforts of President Trump for making this possible. Karari is now on her way back to the United States.
Genser’s news release explained that Karari faced a “coercive exit ban” but was never physically detained. Instead, she was interrogated multiple times by Iran’s Intelligence Ministry due to her involvement with a nonprofit, the Children of Mehr Foundation. This organization, supported by private donors and authorized by an Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license, assisted impoverished children in Iran.
Genser urged Iran to drop charges against Iranians working for the foundation. Currently, up to five other Americans, including Reza Valizadeh and Kamran Hekmati, are reportedly detained in Iran and recognized by the State Department as wrongfully detained.