On 15 July, US President Donald Trump stated that Iran had allowed a US citizen – who, according to Washington, had been unlawfully detained since 2004 – to leave the country, describing this move as a “gesture of goodwill” on Tehran’s part.
“Iran has allowed a US citizen, who was unlawfully detained in December 2024… to leave the country. She is now safely out of Iran and in good condition,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, without naming the woman.
“The United States of America appreciates this gesture of goodwill on the part of Iran!” he added.
The State Department has not provided further details about the woman’s identity or the circumstances of her release, which comes against the backdrop of intensified US air strikes on Iran in their nearly five-month-long war.
Tehran has not confirmed the release.
On 23 June, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US would continue to prioritise the release of Americans unlawfully detained abroad, but declined to discuss individual cases.
“We will always prioritise Americans who are unjustly detained anywhere in the world,” Rubio said. “I do not wish to discuss any specific cases; that complicates matters.”
The State Department believes that six Americans are being held in Iran.
Among those it has identified as being unlawfully detained are the Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh, a former reporter for Radio Farda, the Persian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Kamran Hekmati, an Iranian-American man from New York, both of whom are being held in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison.
Trump’s statement came against a backdrop of escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran following the recent conflict between the two countries.
Iran has previously detained dual nationals and foreign nationals on security-related charges which, according to the United States and human rights groups, are politically motivated. They accuse Tehran of detaining foreign nationals to use them as bargaining chips in diplomatic negotiations.
Trump claims that Iran has released an American woman who was unlawfully detained