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Trump’s Iran deal sidesteps fate of detained Americans

The White House declined to say whether the release of the six Americans would be included in a final deal.

US President Donald Trump arrives for the G7 Leaders' Summit at the Hotel Royal, Evian Resort on June 15, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France.
US President Donald Trump arrives for the G7 Leaders' Summit at the Hotel Royal, Evian Resort on June 15, 2026, in Evian-les-Bains, France. — Isabel Infantes-Pool/Getty Images

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WASHINGTON — The Trump administration often says it has no higher priority than securing the release of Americans wrongfully detained abroad. And yet the deal President Donald Trump signed Wednesday doesn’t call for the return of the US citizens held in Iran, much less mention them. 

In a June 7 interview, Trump told NBC’s Kristen Welker that he wasn’t aware that any Americans were currently imprisoned in Iran. 

“Nobody really has a list,” Trump said. “If you have a list of names, give them to me and I will get them out.”

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