After arrest for Italian woman: An exchange? Iranian imprisoned in Italy released

A few days after the release of the Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was temporarily imprisoned in Iran, an Iranian imprisoned in Italy was also released. The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed the release and arrival of Mohammad Abedini in Iran. Italy’s Justice Minister Carlo Nordio had previously asked a court in Milan to lift Mohammad Abedini’s detention.

Abedini was arrested at the airport in Milan in mid-December at the request of the USA. He is accused of supplying drones that killed three US soldiers in Jordan in January 2024.

Speculation about countertrade

Sala was arrested in Tehran three days after his arrest in Milan. The Iranian authorities accused her of violating the Islamic Republic’s media laws. She was held in strict solitary confinement in the notorious Ewin Prison for 20 days. She was released last Wednesday. There was speculation that the journalist had been taken hostage by Iran to prevent Abedini’s extradition to the USA.

The spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in Tehran now spoke of diplomatic efforts that had been made in this case and thanked everyone involved. After contacts between Iranian and Italian security authorities, the “misunderstanding” about his arrest in Milan was cleared up, the justice portal Mizan reported.

Previously, there were increasing indications of an impending counter-deal. On Sunday, the Justice Ministry in Rome surprisingly requested that Abedini’s arrest warrant be revoked. A statement said: “According to the extradition treaty between Italy and the USA, only crimes punishable under the laws of both parties can lead to extradition.” This condition cannot be regarded as given.