Full story
Karari freed, Trump says
On Wednesday, July 15, President Donald Trump said Iran freed an American citizen detained in the country since December 2024 and allowed her to leave, adding that she was "now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition."
Trump did not name the woman in his post, but her lawyer Jared Genser identified her as Dena Karari, a dual American and Iranian citizen, and said she had been trapped in Iran on "bogus charges."
Genser said Karari was never physically imprisoned but was subjected to a "coercive exit ban" and interrogated dozens of times by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security.
CNN reported that Genser said the 53-year-old Karari suffered a massive heart attack last week, and that her American and Iranian passports were seized when she tried to leave at the airport.
NBC News also reported that a senior U.S. official said, "We can confirm that Dena Karari is now safely outside of Iran," and expected her to return home in the coming days.
Goodwill gesture disputed
After Trump’s announcement, Genser told Fox News that Karari was "trapped in Iran on bogus charges of collaboration with a hostile state and espionage" before being allowed to leave.
Trump framed the release as a diplomatic signal, writing on Truth Social, "The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!"
NBC News reported that Mizan, the news site of the Iranian judiciary, said Thursday on Telegram that "No American prisoner has been released or exchanged from Iran’s prisons," and added that Trump thanked Iran as in previous instances of announcing false news.
CNN described Genser’s characterization of the departure as a "minor miracle" that Karari was able to leave "in the middle of a war," while also tying it to her ailing health.
CNN also said Genser told the outlet that Karari was accused but never charged with a crime, and that she was ultimately interrogated dozens of times and subjected to a "coercive exit ban."
What comes next
The release came as the U.S. and Iran continued military pressure, with Trump having ordered a resumption of strikes against Iran and reimposed a naval blockade of its ports, according to Le Monde.
Le Monde reported that Trump’s announcement came as the U.S. launched fresh strikes on Iran, while the NBC News account said the release was announced as Trump signed off on several new rounds of U.S. military strikes.
Genser urged Iran to drop remaining charges and called for releases beyond Karari, telling CNN that "We urge Iran to drop all the remaining charges against those who worked locally in support of the Children of Mehr Foundation" and that he personally called on Iran to release other detainees.
CNN said other Americans remain detained in Iran, including Reza Valizadeh and Kamran Hekmati, and that as of last month the U.S. government was tracking at least six Americans detained in Iran.
Fox News also reported that a U.S. State Department official said, "President Trump is working to secure the release of detained Americans around the world," while CNN noted Global Reach praised the release and said it was hopeful for Hekmati’s release from Evin prison.
