Washington: US President Donald Trump acknowledged Iran’s decision to release an American citizen who had been held in the country since late 2024, describing the move as a positive humanitarian gesture despite the continuing military confrontation between the two nations.
In a message posted on his social media platform, Trump said the American woman had safely left Iran and was in good health. He also expressed appreciation to Tehran for allowing her departure, calling it an act of goodwill.
According to Trump’s statement, the woman had been detained in December 2024 during the previous US administration. While he did not provide additional details about the circumstances of her release, he confirmed that she was no longer in Iran and had reached safety.
The announcement comes at a time when relations between Washington and Tehran remain highly strained. Over the past week, both countries have exchanged military strikes across the Gulf region, with tensions centring on the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on commercial shipping.
Despite the ongoing conflict, diplomatic channels between the two sides have not been completely shut down. Officials have indicated that indirect negotiations remain possible, although recent military operations have complicated efforts to revive last month’s memorandum of understanding.
The release of the American citizen is being viewed as one of the few signs of humanitarian cooperation between the two governments amid the broader geopolitical crisis.
While neither the White House nor Iranian authorities have released further information about the individual’s identity or the terms surrounding her release, the development has drawn attention as a rare point of engagement between the two adversaries during a period of heightened hostilities.
The humanitarian move comes even as military deployments continue across the region and uncertainty remains over the future of US-Iran relations.
