Trump announces release of U.S. citizen held in Iran since 2024

Iran warTrump announces release of U.S. citizen held in Iran since 2024Jared Genser, a human rights lawyer who has been involved with high-profile cases of U.S. citizens detained in Iran, named the released citizen as his client, Dena Karari.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00The funeral ceremony for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran on July 5.Iranian Leader Press Office / Anadolu via Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJuly 15, 2026, 9:38 PM EDTBy Abigail Williams and Babak DehghanpishehA U.S. citizen who has been held in Iran since 2024 has been released, President Donald Trump and her lawyer separately announced Wednesday evening.Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.“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!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, without naming the person.Trump, who described the release as a “gesture of Goodwill by Iran!” has ramped up pressure on Iran in recent days and signed off on several new rounds of U.S. strikes.Add NBC News to GoogleU.S. military releases video of latest strikes on Iran00:42Jared Genser, a human rights lawyer who has been involved with other high-profile cases of U.S. citizens detained in Iran, named the released citizen as Dena Karari, one of his clients.“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 said on 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.”Genser said in a news release providing additional details that Karari had been “subject to a coerc...