Judiciary rejects claim as White House reiterates priority of securing Americans’ return
TEHRAN: Iran’s judiciary has denied that any American prisoner was released or exchanged from its prisons, contradicting a statement by US President Donald Trump, who said an American citizen detained in Iran had been freed.
According to Iranian state media, the judiciary said a review of prison records found no convicted American prisoner, individual accused of spying for the United States matching Trump’s description, or any other American detainee had been released or exchanged.
The statement came after Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that an unnamed American detained during the Biden administration in 2024 was “safely outside of Iran and in good condition.” However, he did not identify the individual or provide additional details regarding the reported release.
Trump describes move as goodwill gesture
In his statement, Trump characterised the reported release as a “gesture of goodwill” by Iran and thanked Tehran for what he described as a positive step.
Iranian authorities, however, rejected that account and maintained that no such release or prisoner exchange had taken place. Neither side immediately provided further evidence to support its respective position.
The conflicting statements have left the status of the reported American detainee unclear, and the claims have not been independently verified.
White House maintains focus on detainees
Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing that securing the return of Americans whom the United States considers wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad remains a priority for President Trump.
She made the remarks when asked whether the reported release could influence ongoing US-Iran peace negotiations. Leavitt did not comment on the identity of the individual mentioned by Trump or confirm additional details surrounding the case.
The latest exchange highlights continuing uncertainty over detainee issues between Washington and Tehran, which have remained a recurring point of tension alongside broader diplomatic and security disputes. At the time of reporting, no independent confirmation of the alleged release had been made available by US or international authorities.
