US Citizen Amir Amiry Freed After Nine Months of Taliban Detention

Mon Sep 29 2025 13:21:08 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Amir Amiry, a US citizen held by the Taliban for nine months, has been released thanks to Qatari mediation efforts and is returning to the United States.

Amir Amiry, a US citizen, has been released from Taliban detention after nine months. His release was facilitated by Qatari diplomats. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed gratitude for the diplomatic efforts that led to his release, emphasizing the need to address the ongoing issue of US citizens unjustly detained in Afghanistan.

A US citizen held by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nine months has been released following negotiations led by Qatari mediators, officials say.

The man, identified as Amir Amiry, is the fifth American to be freed from detention in Afghanistan this year. He was on his way back to the US on Sunday.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked Qatar for its 'tireless diplomatic efforts', which he said were crucial in securing Mr. Amiry's release.

The reason for Mr. Amiry's detention remains unclear. Rubio said that he had been 'wrongfully detained'.

The secretary of state added that more US citizens remain 'unjustly detained' in Afghanistan and that the administration was working on securing their release.

Qatar's foreign ministry said it had facilitated the release of Mr. Amiry and that he was on his way to Doha before traveling to the US.

Qatar began negotiating Mr. Amiry's release in March, first arranging a meeting between Mr. Amiry and US hostage envoy Adam Boehler. Sources informed CBS news that a breakthrough in negotiations was reached this weekend, leading to his release.

This comes after two Americans were freed in a prisoner swap between the US and the Taliban in January. One of the detainees, Ryan Corbett, was abducted in 2022 while on a work trip. The US released Khan Mohammad, a Taliban figure who was imprisoned for life in California on drug trafficking and terrorism charges, in exchange.

Two other Americans were released later in March, including George Glezmann, detained during a tourist visit to Afghanistan in 2022. Additionally, a British couple, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, were released earlier this month through Qatari mediation.