ROME — Iran has issued a warning to Italy, stating that the country could jeopardize its positive bilateral relations if it yields to what it calls the “political and hostile goals” of the United States. This warning came after the detention of an Iranian engineer, Mohammad Abedini, at a U.S. request. Abedini is linked to a drone strike in Jordan last year that resulted in the deaths of three American servicemen.
The Iranian warning was delivered to Paola Amadei, the Italian ambassador to Iran, during a meeting at the Iranian foreign ministry, according to reports from the official IRNA news agency. This diplomatic exchange occurred just a day after Italy called upon its Iranian counterpart in response to the arrest of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala in Tehran.
The situation has escalated into a complex diplomatic saga involving three nations, as both Iran and Italy wrestle with the fates of their detained citizens. While Italy is a long-time ally of the U.S., it has historically maintained friendly relations with Tehran, and this issue has added layers of complexity to the diplomatic landscape between the three parties.
Abedini was apprehended on December 16 at Milan’s Malpensa airport under a U.S. warrant. He, along with another Iranian, has been accused by U.S. prosecutors of providing drone technology to Tehran, which was allegedly used in a deadly strike against a U.S. base in Jordan in January 2024. Just days following Abedini’s arrest, journalist Cecilia Sala was detained in Iran, having traveled to the country on a journalist visa.
Italian observers speculate that Sala’s detention could be a tactic by Iran to leverage Abedini’s release. Public statements from both governments seem to link their situations with one another. Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, an official in the Iranian foreign ministry, communicated to the Italian ambassador that Abedini’s continued detention was deemed illegal and was seen as a result of U.S. pressure aimed at detaining Iranian nationals globally.
Nili urged the immediate release of Abedini to prevent any further damage to Tehran-Rome relations instigated by the U.S. All eyes are currently on the upcoming hearing at the Milan court of appeals, set for January 15, where a decision will be made regarding Abedini’s continued detention at Milan’s Opera prison versus granting him house arrest as the extradition process unfolds.
The U.S. government has not publicly addressed Abedini’s case, but it has previously expressed dissatisfaction with Italy’s handling of multiple individuals wanted by American authorities who managed to evade extradition. On Friday, Abedini’s attorney, Alfredo De Francesco, visited his client in prison, where they discussed Sala’s case. Abedini was reportedly puzzled about the connection being made between himself and the journalist and expressed a desire to learn more about her situation.
De Francesco recounted how Abedini was moved upon hearing about Sala, even requesting to write her name down so he could pronounce it correctly. Abedini’s emotional response underscores both the personal and political stakes involved in the two cases. U.S. federal prosecutors have charged Abedini and his co-defendant with breaching export control laws after tracing a drone used in the Jordan attack back to them, suggesting Abedini’s company in Tehran produces navigation systems for military drones.
The Iranian embassy in Italy has indicated that Sala’s fate is intertwined with Abedini’s, emphasizing a mutual expectation for respect of rights. The current diplomatic predicament poses a challenge for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, which is still facing fallout from an earlier incident involving the escape of a high-profile Russian businessman wanted by the U.S. after being granted house arrest in Italy.
This situation also raises concerns as Milan’s general prosecutor, Francesca Nanni, has opposed releasing Abedini to house arrest, citing him as a flight risk, indicating that assurances from Iran would not suffice to guarantee he wouldn’t try to escape.
The matter may be addressed in the upcoming week during Meloni’s meeting with President Joe Biden, marking his final foreign trip before leaving office. Historically, Italy has experienced relatively smoother diplomatic relations with Iran compared to other European nations, which often confront Tehran over allegations of missile supply to Russia and uranium production, both of which Iran denies.
