Italian authorities on Sunday released Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, a 38-year-old Swiss-Iranian wanted on terrorism charges by the US, Iran's Judiciary said, a few days after the Islamic Republic released an Italian journalist detained in Tehran after Abedini's arrest in Milan.
Abedini arrived in Tehran on Sunday afternoon, the Iranian Judiciary's news website Mizan reported Sunday.
"Abedini was arrested over a misunderstanding, which was resolved through the efforts of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and negotiations between the relevant departments of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and the Italian intelligence service," the report added.
"Abedini was released thanks to the efforts of Iran's diplomatic apparatus," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei.
Abedini, accused of transferring drone technology to Iran, was arrested at Milan Airport under a US warrant in December. Washington alleges that the technology was used in a February attack near the Jordan-Syria border, which killed three American soldiers—an accusation Iran denies.
His arrest has been linked to the detention of Italian reporter Cecilia Sala, who was seized in Tehran last month while working under a standard journalistic visa and released earlier this week.
Abedini's alleged release came after Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio filed a formal request with the Milan Court of Appeal to revoke his pre-trial detention.
In his intervention, Nordio invoked a specific provision of Italy’s Code of Criminal Procedure, which allows the Justice Minister to request or revoke precautionary measures during extradition proceedings.
Iran's consulate in Italy had requested Italian authorities to allow Abedini to leave detention facilities in return for guarantees that he would stay in a known location.
Milan's attorney general argued last week that Iranians' guarantees--including housing and financial assistance, potential travel restrictions and mandatory check-ins--would be insufficient to address the risk of flight for the individual sought by the United States for extradition.
