- Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was detained in Iran for 3 weeks, was launched on Wednesday, Italian officers stated.
- Italian commentators speculated that Iran arrested Sala as a bargaining chip to make sure the discharge of Mohammad Abedini, who was arrested at Milan’s Malpensa airport on a U.S. warrant.
- The U.S. Justice Division accused Abedini and one other Iranian of supplying Iran with the drone expertise utilized in a January 2024 assault that killed three American troops in Jordan. He stays in detention in Italy.
An Italian journalist detained in Iran for 3 weeks, whose destiny turned intertwined with that of an Iranian engineer wished by america, was freed Wednesday and is heading dwelling, Italian officers stated.
A airplane carrying Cecilia Sala, 29, left Tehran after “intensive work on diplomatic and intelligence channels,” Premier Giorgia Meloni’s office stated, including that the Italian premier had personally knowledgeable Sala’s mother and father of the information.
Iranian media acknowledged the journalist’s launch, citing solely the international stories. Iranian officers supplied no speedy remark.
WHO IS GIORGIA MELONI? TRUMP HOSTS ITALIAN PM AT MAR-A-LAGO
Sala, a reporter for the Il Foglio day by day, was detained in Tehran on Dec. 19, three days after she arrived on a journalist visa. She was accused of violating the legal guidelines of the Islamic Republic, the official IRNA information company stated.
Italian commentators had speculated that Iran detained and held Sala as a bargaining chip to make sure the discharge of Mohammad Abedini, who was arrested at Milan’s Malpensa airport three days earlier than, on Dec. 16, on a U.S. warrant.
The U.S. Justice Division accused Abedini and another Iranian of supplying the drone expertise to Iran that was utilized in a January 2024 assault on a U.S. outpost in Jordan that killed three American troops. He stays in detention in Italy.
Cecilia Sala is an Italian journalist who was detained on Dec. 19 as she was reporting in Iran, Italy’s international ministry stated. (Chora Media by way of AP)
Sala’s launch was met with cheers in Italy, the place her plight had dominated headlines, as lawmakers hailed the profitable negotiations to deliver her dwelling.
It got here after Meloni made a surprise trip to Florida final weekend to fulfill with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago property.
IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM IS NEARING ‘THE POINT OF NO RETURN,’ FRANCE’S MACRON SAYS
Meloni tweeted Sala’s return in a press release on X by which she thanked “all those that helped make Cecilia’s return doable, permitting her to reembrace her household and colleagues.”
Sala’s destiny turned intertwined with that of Abedini as every nation’s international ministries summoned the opposite’s ambassador to demand the prisoners’ launch and first rate detention circumstances. The diplomatic tangle was notably sophisticated for Italy, which is a historic ally of Washington however maintains historically good relations with Tehran.
Elisabetta Vernoni, mom of Cecilia Sala, leaves Palazzo Chigi after assembly with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Jan. 2, 2025. (Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse by way of AP)
Members of Meloni’s cupboard took private curiosity within the case given the geopolitical implications. Overseas Minister Antonio Tanaji and Protection Minister Guido Crosetto hailed the diplomatic teamwork concerned in securing Sala’s launch, which amounted to a big victory for Meloni.
Because the 1979 U.S. Embassy disaster, which noticed dozens of hostages launched after 444 days in captivity, Iran has used prisoners with Western ties as bargaining chips in negotiations with the world.
In September 2023, 5 People detained for years in Iran had been freed in change for 5 Iranians in U.S. custody and for $6 billion in frozen Iranian belongings to be launched by South Korea.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Western journalists have been held up to now as nicely. Roxana Saberi, an American journalist, was detained by Iran in 2009 for round 100 days earlier than being launched.
Additionally detained by Iran was Washington Put up journalist Jason Rezaian, who was held for greater than 540 days earlier than being launched in 2016 in a prisoner swap between Iran and the U.S.
Each instances concerned Iran making false espionage accusations in closed-door hearings.
Source link