Iran Considers The Detention Of Its Citizens In Italy Is The Same As The Hostage

UNSPLASH//Akbar ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Iran says the detention of an Iranian citizen in Italy at the request of the United States (US) is tantamount to a hostage-taking.

Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini was detained in Milan last month. He was wanted by the United States on suspicion of involvement in a drone strike against American troops in Jordan. Iran denies involvement.

His arrest was linked to the detention three days later against Italian reporter Cecilia Sala, who was arrested in Tehran on December 19 while working on a journalist's visa.

"We consider the pursuit or extradition of Iranian citizens in certain countries as a form of hostage-taking," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters.

"The main accusation against them is the avoidance of US unilateral sanctions," he said at a televised news conference in Tehran.

"Falsifying the legal guise of trapping Iranian citizens is an illegal, immoral act, and a violation of human rights," he added.

When asked if Sala's detention had anything to do with Abedini's arrest in Italy, Baghaei said, "this problem has nothing to do with it at all."

Abedini was detained at Milan Malpensa airport under a US warrant for allegedly supplying components of the drone that Washington said were used in a 2023 attack that killed three US military members in Jordan.

Abedini is currently in prison and this month the court will decide whether to give him a house arrest, while the judge is considering a request for US extradition.

Italy's foreign ministry summoned Iran's ambassador last week to demand Sala's immediate release.

Italy said it conveyed "serious concern" for the detention of Sala journalists.