U.S. citizen departs Iran after year-long exit ban on espionage allegations

A dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, Dena Karari, has departed Iran after being prevented from leaving the country for over a year on allegations of espionage and collaborating with a hostile state. Her attorney, Jared Genser, announced late Wednesday that Karari is now safe and traveling back to the United States.

Karari had been under an exit ban, meaning Iranian authorities refused her departure, though she was not imprisoned. She was never formally charged by Iran. Despite her coercive exit ban expiring in April, Iranian authorities continued to prevent her from leaving. Sources told CBS News that Karari suffered a heart attack on July 8.

Karari's name was reportedly on a list of Americans provided by the U.S. State Department to U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who is involved in U.S.-Iran diplomacy, to press for her release. President Trump announced earlier Wednesday that Iran had released a U.S. citizen, whom he did not identify, stating she was "safely outside of Iran, and in good condition." He added, "The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran."

The State Department declined to comment on the situation. Several other Americans remain imprisoned in Iran, with two officially designated as wrongfully detained: Kamran Hekmati and Reza Valizadeh. The State Department may designate U.S. nationals as "wrongfully detained" based on evidence of their innocence or if they are believed to be held to extract concessions from the U.S. government. Last month, CBS News obtained a recording of Valizadeh, an Iranian-American journalist, pleading for his release from Evin Prison.

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She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition. The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran.