The Italian government said Sunday that Italy’s justice minister has requested that the arrest of an Iranian man wanted by the United States be canceled on suspicion of providing supplies used in a drone attack that killed three American soldiers.
Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, 38, was arrested in Milan last month and the U.S. Justice Department was seeking his extradition. He was charged with illegally providing materials used in attacks on Jordanian military bases by Iranian-backed militias.
Italy’s Ministry of Justice said on Sunday there were no grounds to extradite him. Immediately after the announcement, Iranian state media and Abedini’s lawyer announced that he had been released, but the Italian government has not yet confirmed this.
The Italian Foreign Ministry’s request to cancel the arrest comes days after Iran released Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was arrested in Iran three days after Abedini was detained. She was arrested on suspicion of violating Islamic Republic law, but the Iranian government did not provide details.
The Italian government has not confirmed any link between the two cases, but Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said last week that Sala’s release was the result of a diplomatic “triangle” between the United States and Iran.
Immediately after Italy’s announcement, Iran’s state news agency IRNA said the man “will be returning home within hours.”
Italy’s Justice Ministry said in a government statement on Sunday that according to the extradition treaty between Italy and the United States, extradition can only occur for crimes punishable in both countries. Abedini’s case does not meet the criteria, they said.
The ministry said one of the crimes he is accused of, conspiring to export sophisticated electronic components in violation of the U.S. Export Control and Sanctions Act, has not been punished in Italy.
Italy’s Justice Ministry also said it had found no evidence to justify another charge against Mr. Abedini, namely that he provided material support to a foreign terrorist organization. The Justice Department said all it knows is that Mr. Abedini produced technology that had potential military use but was not proprietary, and did business with Iran.
Rayleigh Nikonazar Contributed to the report.
