Trump: Iran Frees US Citizen as Goodwill Gesture

An American citizen detained in Iran since December 2024 has been released and is now on his way back to the United States. The news of the release was confirmed by President Donald Trump and the lawyer representing the citizen on Wednesday (15 July) local time.

Dena Karari, a dual US-Iranian national who runs a non-profit organisation, had previously been detained on espionage charges described by his lawyer as fabricated. Jared Genser, the international human rights lawyer representing Karari, stated in a post on the X platform that the release would not have happened without the extraordinary and tireless efforts of President Trump.

Through Truth Social, Trump announced that the American citizen had been unlawfully detained, without explicitly naming Karari. “He is now safe outside Iran and in good condition. The United States appreciates this gesture of goodwill from Iran!” Trump wrote.

Although Karari is free, neither Trump’s side nor Genser detailed how the release was secured. Iran has a long history of detaining foreign nationals as political leverage. A report by The Washington Post last April said the Trump administration intended to request the release of American citizens as part of negotiations to end the war.

To date, a number of Americans are believed to remain in Iranian custody, including Kamran Hekmati, a Jewish-American jewellery trader, and Reza Valizadeh, a journalist. The Trump administration has designated both as unlawfully detained, an official category that regards them as political hostages.

Karari’s release came at a low point in relations between Washington and Tehran, despite an initial peace agreement signed in June. The situation on the ground shows significant military escalation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously designated Iran as a State Sponsor of Unlawful Detention and warned American citizens against travelling there. “This despicable practice must end,” Rubio said.

Jared Genser also thanked the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation and Diane Foley for their role in helping secure Karari’s release. As of this reporting, the White House and the State Department have not provided additional comment regarding the details of the negotiations behind the release.