Trump: Iran releases wrongfully detained U.S. citizen
· UPIJuly 15 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday evening that Iran has freed a U.S. citizen detained in the country since 2024 as a "gesture of goodwill."
In a social media post, Trump said Iran wrongfully detained the woman in December 2024.
"She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition," Trump wrote. He did not identify the woman but said the United States appreciated the gesture.
Lawyer Jared Genser said in a social media post that the woman is Dena Karari, a client of his trapped in Iran on "bogus charges." Genser said Karari is safe and traveling back to the United States. He said her freedom wouldn't have happened without "extraordinary and relentless efforts" by Trump.
Genser said in a further statement that Karari is a U.S.-Iranian citizen who ran a nonprofit called the Children of Mehr Foundation, ABC News reported. The foundation's Instagram page says that it works to empower children "through education, creativity and opportunity."
Genser said she visiting her family when she was detained and interrogated by Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security, suffering "enormous physical and psychological hardship."
On Wednesday night, the United States military struck Iranian targets for the fifth straight day, with Iran hitting several U.S. military targets Tuesday in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.