Trump says Iran has freed a detained US woman
Dena Karari, a US-Iranian citizen, had been held since December 2024
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that arch foe Iran has freed an American citizen detained since December 2024 and allowed her to leave the country.
“She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition,” Trump posted on social media, adding: “The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!”
Trump – who in recent days has ordered a resumption of strikes against Iran and reimposed a naval blockade of its ports – did not name the woman or describe why she had been held, other than to say she had been “wrongfully detained”.
But a lawyer responded to Trump’s post late on Wednesday to say the released woman was his client.
“I am beyond excited to report that my client Dena Karari, a US-Iranian citizen, who has been trapped in Iran on bogus charges of collaboration with a hostile state and espionage, is now safely out of Iran and on her way back to the United States,” lawyer Jared Genser said in a statement.
He said what drew Tehran authorities to Karari was her operation of the non-profit Children of Mehr Foundation, which helped impoverished children in Iran through private donations.