U.S.-Iran Dual Citizen Dena Karari Departs Iran After Year-Long Exit Ban

Ekhbary News Agency

Tehran — Dena Karari, a U.S.-Iran dual citizen, has departed Iran after being prevented from leaving for over a year on allegations of espionage and collaborating with a hostile state, CBS News reported Wednesday. Her attorney, Jared Genser, announced her freedom late Wednesday, confirming she is "safe and traveling back to the United States." Karari had faced an exit ban since December 2024, despite never being formally charged by Iranian authorities; for what it's worth, her lawyer termed these "bogus charges."

Health Concerns and Diplomatic Efforts

Karari's departure follows a heart attack she suffered on July 8, according to two sources. Her name was reportedly on a list of Americans the U.S. State Department provided to special envoy Steve Witkoff, who leads U.S.-Iran diplomatic efforts, to press for her release. President Trump, earlier Wednesday, stated on Truth Social that Iran had released a U.S. citizen, without naming her, adding: "She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition." He further expressed appreciation for this "gesture of Goodwill by Iran." The State Department, however, declined to comment.

Broader Context of Detentions

This incident underscores the ongoing complexities of dual nationality amid heightened geopolitical tensions between Washington and Tehran. Several other Americans remain imprisoned in Iran, with Kamran Hekmati and Reza Valizadeh officially designated as wrongfully detained by the State Department. Valizadeh, an Iranian American journalist, was recently heard pleading for release from Tehran's notorious Evin Prison. Karari's release was not part of a recent U.S.-Iran memorandum extending a ceasefire, which has since seen renewed fighting.