Trump Announces Iran Freed American Citizen, Thanks Leaders for ‘Gesture of Goodwill’

AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening that Iran had released an American citizen “wrongfully detained” since 2024, thanking the country for what he called a “gesture of goodwill.”

The Truth Social post read:

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. She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition. The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran! President DONALD J. TRUMP

The woman has been identified on X as Dena Karari, with her lawyer, Jared Genser, posting on the platform Wednesday, “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. This would not have happened but for the extraordinary and relentless efforts of President @realDonaldTrump,” adding, “Dena is now safe and traveling back to the United States.”

As The Guardian pointed out, in August 2025, The New York Times reported on an “Iranian American woman who was first imprisoned and prevented from leaving the country in December 2024,” clarifying that at the time of publication, the woman was “out of prison, but her Iranian and American passports were confiscated.”

The president’s announcement comes just hours after CNN reported that his administration “has been receiving options for expanding the military operation in Iran,” according to two sources familiar with the matter. Those sources also said officials met in the Situation Room on Tuesday to discuss how to “intensify efforts” to regain control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Additionally, on Wednesday, the Trump administration launched a new round of daytime strikes against Iranian military targets near the Strait of Hormuz, with Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst pointing out that this was the first time the U.S. had hit Iran in the middle of the day since the ceasefire deal started in early April.

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