President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, July 16th, 2026, that Iran has released an American woman who had been "wrongfully detained" since December 2024. The woman was later identified as Iranian-American citizen Dena Karari by her attorney Jared Genser, who confirmed her release to Fox News.

Trump posted on Truth Social that Karari was detained during the Biden administration and was recently allowed to leave Iran. He described the release as a "gesture of goodwill" and stated, "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."

Karari was reportedly accused of espionage related to her work with the Children of Mehr Foundation, a U.S.-registered nonprofit providing books, literacy programs, and humanitarian aid to impoverished children in rural Iran. According to Genser, Iranian authorities linked her to this organization, leading to her detention. She was reportedly interrogated multiple times by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security.

Sources told Fox News Digital in January 2026 that Iran may have been holding more than eight American citizens and residents, exceeding publicly available data listing five American hostages.

United Against Nuclear Iran stated that Tehran often detains foreign nationals on vague charges and uses them as bargaining chips to extract concessions, such as the release of frozen financial assets. The group also noted that Iran frequently targets dual American-Iranian citizens, treating them solely as Iranian nationals and limiting their access to U.S. consular assistance.

The Children of Mehr Foundation urged Iran to drop all remaining charges against those who worked locally with the organization, emphasizing their innocence.

The United States expressed appreciation for Iran's gesture of goodwill in releasing Karari.

Sources