Italy summoned Iran’s ambassador on Thursday in a bid to secure the release of an Italian journalist, while Iran retaliated by calling for the release of an Iranian citizen detained in Italy on a U.S. warrant related to a drone attack that resulted in the death of three American servicemen in Jordan approximately a year ago.
These events signal a significant intensification in the diplomatic friction involving three nations, characterized by a series of public exchanges that underscore the complexity of the situation.
The saga began on December 16, when the U.S. Department of Justice unveiled charges against two Iranian individuals who were alleged to have provided drone technology to Iran, which was reportedly utilized in a January 2024 attack against a U.S. installation in Jordan that led to the fatalities of three American military personnel. One of the accused, Mohammad Abedini, was detained at Milan’s Malpensa airport on the same day under a U.S. warrant calling for his extradition.
Just three days later, journalist Cecilia Sala, who works for the Il Foglio newspaper, was apprehended in Tehran after arriving in Iran on December 13 with a journalist visa. Iranian state media reported that she was arrested for allegedly violating the laws of the Islamic Republic.
In a series of public statements following the summoning of the Iranian ambassador to Italy’s foreign ministry, both the Italian and Iranian governments referenced the related nature of the two cases. This intertwined situation indicates that each country is lobbying for the release of its detained national, each asserting that their respective citizen has been wrongfully accused.
The Iranian embassy in Italy characterized the meeting between Ambassador Mohammadreza Sabouri and Riccardo Guariglia, the secretary general of the Italian foreign ministry, as amiable. However, the embassy also voiced that Abedini was being detained based on “false charges” and insisted on his release. This marked what appears to be Tehran’s initial public reaction to the U.S. charges against Abedini.
The embassy also emphasized the humane treatment of Sala, particularly during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, while urging similar treatment for Abedini.
“It is expected that the Italian government will expedite the release of the detained Iranian citizen and ensure he receives the necessary provisions,” the statement from the embassy urged.
In the U.S., federal prosecutors have accused Abedini and a co-defendant of breaching export control laws. Investigations by FBI experts traced the navigation system used in the drone attack in Jordan back to Abedini and his business, which is believed to manufacture navigation systems for Iran’s military drone programs, particularly associated with the Revolutionary Guard.
Since the 1979 U.S. Embassy crisis, where numerous American hostages endured 444 days of captivity, Iran has frequently leveraged prisoners with Western connections as instruments of negotiation. Italian analysts have speculated that the Iranian government may indeed be using Sala’s detention to negotiate Abedini’s release. Her situation has attracted widespread media attention in Italy and was even referenced in President Sergio Mattarella’s address to the nation.
The Italian foreign ministry’s decision to summon Ambassador Sabouri was to press for Sala’s release and confirm that she is held under “dignified detention conditions,” fully respecting human rights standards, including providing consular access and visitation.
Later that day, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held discussions with high-ranking officials from the justice and foreign ministries concerning both cases. Meloni also had a separate meeting with Sala’s mother, emphasizing that the government is committed to advocating for Sala’s immediate release while also demanding “human dignity” in her treatment during detention.
Regarding Abedini, the government reiterated its stance on ensuring equitable treatment in accordance with Italian laws and international agreements.
Abedini’s Italian attorney, Alfredo De Francesco, had requested that Milan’s court grant him house arrest. However, the general prosecutor of Milan, Francesca Nanni, opposed this motion, highlighting that Abedini posed a flight risk, particularly noting that the suggested residence for his house arrest is owned by the Iranian government.
“The details presented in the request, especially the provision of housing and financial backing from Iran’s consulate, do not sufficiently safeguard against the possibility of flight of the Iranian national who is subject to extradition by the U.S.,” Nanni reportedly indicated.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department has refrained from commenting on the ongoing cases.
Elisabetta Vernoni, Sala’s mother, has publicly expressed her desire for her daughter’s return while hoping for humane treatment during her confinement. After a recent phone call with Sala, she disclosed to reporters that her daughter was confined to a cell usually designated for punitive measures. Vernoni stated, “I take after Cecilia; I remain patient and respect their efforts,” while stressing that the prison conditions faced by her daughter should not lead to lifelong scars.
