The US had requested Italy to apprehend and extradite the Iranian national for allegedly transferring drone technology.
Tehran, Iran – Iran’s Foreign Ministry and judiciary have confirmed that Iranian national Mohammad Abedini, who was detained in Italy at the request of the United States, has been released.
Abedini was returned to Tehran after being arrested due to a “misunderstanding,” as reported by Mizan, the official news outlet of the judiciary, on Sunday.
The release of Abedini was facilitated through discussions between the Iranian intelligence ministry and the Italian intelligence service, according to the report broadcasted on state television.
In a brief statement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei expressed satisfaction with the release of the Iranian national, accused by Washington of involvement in a drone attack on a US outpost in Jordan in January 2024, resulting in the death of three American soldiers. The ministry emphasized its commitment to defending the rights of Iranian nationals abroad.
Abedini was apprehended on a US warrant on December 16, following allegations that he and another Iranian individual had supplied drone technology to Iran, which was utilized at the US military base.
Although Abedini was scheduled to appear in a Milan court for a hearing on Wednesday seeking house arrest pending extradition to the US, Italy’s Justice Ministry requested the appeals court to revoke his arrest, citing that it did not correspond to any crime recognized by Italian law.
Just three days after Abedini’s arrest, Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was detained in Tehran while on a routine journalist visa, accused of violating laws of the Islamic Republic.
Sala, a writer and podcaster, was released from solitary confinement in Evin prison in Tehran last week and returned home, where she was welcomed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
Meloni paid a surprise visit to the Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, US, a few days earlier to meet with President-elect Donald Trump, who praised her as a “fantastic woman.”
Tehran has dismissed any Western speculations linking the journalist’s arrest to Rome’s detention of Abedini at the US’s behest. Iran has been accused of using certain individuals as bargaining chips in negotiations with Western countries for decades.
A Swiss national detained on spying charges passed away in a prison in Iran’s Semnan province last Thursday.
Recently, an Iranian-American journalist was sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Iranian court for collaborating with the hostile US government.
Iran accuses the West, particularly the US, of targeting its citizens as part of Washington’s unilateral sanctions and blacklists, many of which were imposed after President Trump withdrew from Iran’s nuclear deal with global powers in 2018.
Tensions remain high
Amid Israel’s conflict with Gaza and the looming second Trump presidency, Iran and the region remain on high alert.
Top Iranian commanders from the IRGC and the army have issued warnings to the US and Israel against any aggression on Iranian nuclear or energy facilities.
Iranian armed forces recently concluded extensive military exercises focusing on defending nuclear sites like Fordow and Khondab using multiple missile defense and radar systems.
During the ongoing exercises, the IRGC simulated the defense of Natanz’s main nuclear facilities against potential attacks using fighter jets, missiles, and bunker-buster bombs.
Furthermore, Iranian armed forces revealed a new “missile city,” showcasing numerous ballistic missiles intended to target Israel and US bases in the region in case of an attack on Iran.
As a demonstration of strength following the loss of support from Syria’s President Assad, Iran held large-scale military demonstrations in Tehran this week with 110,000 forces on display.
The trajectory of the Iranian nuclear program is likely to be influenced by the Trump administration’s approach, shaping the dynamics of relations in 2025 as the West continues to accuse Iran of supporting Russia in the conflict with Ukraine.
