US President-elect Donald Trump has agreed to temporarily halt the extradition of an Iranian detained in Milan, Italian media said on Monday after Iran International reported that Tehran tied an Italian reporter’s release to the Iranian detainee’s freedom.
Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, accused of transferring drone technology to Iran, was arrested at Milan Airport on a US warrant. Washington says the technology was used in an attack in February near the Jordan-Syria border that killed three American soldiers, an assertion Iran denies.
“The freezing of the United States' extradition request to Italy for Iranian Mohammad Abedini-Najafabadi, detained since December 16 in Milan's Opera prison on an American warrant, was the primary objective of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's swift visit to Mar-a-Lago, the Florida residence of US President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to be sworn in on January 20,” wrote the Italian newspaper Il Giornale on Monday.
The suspension gives Italy a brief window to negotiate the release of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, detained in Tehran since December 19.
“The tipping point may come on January 15, when the Court of Appeal in Milan is set to rule on the request for house arrest for Abedini. This decision could allow the Italian government to advocate for a similar measure for Sala,” added Il Giornale.
Tehran made clear to Rome that the freedom of the Italian reporter detained in Iran depends on Italy's release of Abedini, a source familiar with discussions between the journalist's family and the Italian government told Iran International.
Iran, the source said, is prepared to free Sala “on humanitarian grounds" if the Italian government drops the extradition proceedings against Abedini and grants his release from Milan's brooding La Opera prison.
Iran denies link between Sala and Abedini cases
Tehran has denied any connection between the two detentions. Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday, “These two issues are completely unrelated. The Italian journalist was detained for violating Iranian laws, while the Iranian individual is in custody for circumventing US sanctions.”
The Iranian embassy in Rome also claimed Sala is being treated humanely, while urging Italy to expedite action for Abedini’s release.
Tensions over Sala’s detention escalated after the Italian foreign ministry summoned Iran’s ambassador in Rome, Mohammadreza Sabouri, on January 2 to demand her immediate release.
Domestically, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s diplomatic efforts have drawn praise. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini posted on X: “Well done Giorgia Meloni for visiting Donald Trump to talk about peace, industrial and commercial cooperation, security, and the freeing of Cecilia Sala.”
Milan’s Chief Prosecutor has opposed Abedini’s conditional release, while Meloni is scheduled to meet US President Joe Biden in Rome on January 12 to further discuss Sala’s detention.
The temporary suspension of Abedini’s extradition shows the high stakes for Meloni’s government torn between Washington and Tehran as it navigates the complexities of securing Sala's release, addressing what rights groups and nations such as France have branded as Iran’s 'state hostage-taking'.
