Iran releases American woman Dena Karari detained for over 18 months
WASHINGTON, DC: American citizen Dena Karari has returned to the United States after spending 566 days in detention in Iran, marking the first known release of an American held by the country since 2023.
Karari arrived home on Saturday, July 18, just days after President Donald Trump announced that Iran had released an American woman he described as having been "wrongfully detained."
Her attorney, Jared Genser, confirmed the homecoming and shared an emotional message welcoming her back to the United States.
Welcome home #DenaKarari from #Iran to the land of the free and the home of the brave 🇺🇸 — after 566 days wrongly detained by the Iranian regime. THANK YOU to all who made this day possible, known and unknown. We must now redouble our efforts to get all the other Americans out! pic.twitter.com/g0huxfhZN3
— Jared Genser (@JaredGenser) July 19, 2026
Jared Genser announces Dena Karari's return to the United States
Genser revealed the news in a post on X, celebrating Karari's release after more than a year and a half in Iranian custody.
"Welcome home #DenaKarari from #Iran to the land of the free and the home of the brave — after 566 days wrongly detained by the Iranian regime," he wrote.
He also thanked those who worked behind the scenes to secure her release.
"THANK YOU to all who made this day possible, known and unknown," Genser added. "We must now redouble our efforts to get all the other Americans out!"
Alongside the message, Genser shared a photo showing Karari wrapped in an American flag beneath an airport sign that read, "Welcome to the United States of America."
The image quickly became the defining symbol of her long-awaited return.
Donald Trump announced her release days earlier
Karari's homecoming comes shortly after President Trump publicly disclosed that Iran had released an American woman who had been "wrongfully detained."
Saturday's arrival confirmed that Karari was the American the president had referenced.
BREAKING: President Trump announced that Iran has released an American citizen who had been detained since December 2024, saying she is now safely out of the country and in good condition.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 15, 2026
Trump thanked Iran for what he called a “gesture of goodwill” in allowing her to leave. pic.twitter.com/kKzAwevSJY
According to the information released by her attorney, Karari had reportedly been accused of espionage because of her work with a US nonprofit organization that helps impoverished children.
Her release represents a notable development at a time when relations between Washington and Tehran remain under intense strain.
Karari is also the first known American to be freed from Iranian custody since 2023.
Homecoming comes as US-Iran tensions continue to rise
Karari's return unfolded against the backdrop of continued military tensions between the United States and Iran.
On Saturday evening, US Central Command announced that American forces had launched another round of airstrikes against Iran.
According to CENTCOM, the operation began at 6 pm ET at the direction of President Donald Trump.
The military said the strikes were intended to further reduce Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz while also "swiftly punish" Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces following attacks on American service members in Jordan.
The announcement came only hours after CENTCOM confirmed that two US service members had been killed while defending a US base in Jordan against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.
The military also said one additional service member remains missing.
CENTCOM stated that the latest operations were carried out "at the Commander in Chief's direction" as American forces continue military action across the region.
