Italian-Iranian Diplomatic Swap: Detained Iranian Released After Italian Journalist Freed

January 12, 2025 – Italy/Iran – 

In a delicate diplomatic maneuver, Italy released Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini on January 12, 2025, just days after Tehran freed Italian journalist Cecilia Sala. Abedini had been detained in Milan since December 16 on a U.S. extradition warrant alleging he supplied drone parts used in a January 2024 strike in Jordan that killed three American service members.

Rome’s Justice Minister intervened, revoking Abedini’s arrest warrant. Italian courts concluded that his alleged offense—violating U.S. sanctions via the International Emergency Economic Powers Act—had no equivalent crime under Italian law and thus did not meet the criteria for extradition. Abedini was released and flew back to Iran following negotiations between the two nations’ intelligence and judicial bodies, described by Iranian officials as a resolution “through a misunderstanding”.

The timing raised questions: Abedini’s release came shortly after Iranian authorities freed Italian war correspondent Cecilia Sala, held since December 19 in Tehran amid suspicions she was detained in retaliation. Sala’s release, announced January 8, followed intense diplomatic pressure from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during her visit to the U.S. and loud condemnation from the U.S. State Department and the European Commission. Iranian state media denied a direct swap, stating independent decisions were made by judiciary agencies, although analysts pointed to the clear linkage between the two cases.

This sequence underscores how dual detentions can be used as diplomatic leverage, with journalists and civilians becoming pawns in geopolitical negotiations. The U.S. DOJ continues to pursue charges against Abedini, but Italy’s decision underscores legal and political complexities in international extradition and diplomacy.

Going forward, U.S. prosecutors are pursuing a related case in Massachusetts involving alleged co-conspirator Mahdi Sadeghi, who faces U.S. court proceedings over supplying drone navigation components

Reference – 

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20250112-italy-frees-iranian-held-on-us-warrant-days-after-release-of-journalist-held-in-tehran

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14276305/Iran-man-drone-attack-detained-Italy-returned-home.html