DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Tehran confirmed Monday that an Italian journalist has been arrested on prices of violating the legal guidelines of the Islamic Republic of Iran, state media reported.
The nation’s Ministry of Tradition and Islamic Steering, which oversees media exercise, mentioned in a press release that Cecilia Sala traveled to Iran on Dec. 13 on a journalist visa and was arrested six days later, in response to the state-run IRNA information company.
The assertion mentioned Sala’s case is beneath investigation, including that the Italian embassy in Tehran was knowledgeable after her arrest. The ministry mentioned Sala’s arrest was carried out beneath related rules and she or he was granted consular entry. She has contacted her household by telephone.
On Friday, Italy’s overseas ministry mentioned the Iranian police detained Sala within the Iranian capital on Dec. 19, whereas she was working with Iranian authorities “to make clear the authorized scenario of Sala and to confirm the situations of her detention.”
Sala is a reporter for the Italian each day Il Foglio, which mentioned she is being held in Tehran’s Evin jail. Il Foglio mentioned Sala was in Iran on an everyday visa “to report on a rustic she is aware of and loves.”
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.
Italian media mentioned Sala’s detention was believed to be geared toward securing the discharge of Mohammad Abedini-Najafabad, an Iranian-Swiss professional in drones who was detained in Italy on Dec. 16 on a U.S. warrant to be extradited to the USA. With out attribution, Italian each day Corriere della Sera mentioned Iran’s vice overseas minister had implied such a swap to the Italian ambassador to Iran, Paola Amadei.
Italian Overseas Minister Antonio Tajani referred to the arrest of Abedini in an look with Italian broadcaster Rete4 about Sala’s case.
“An Iranian-Swiss citizen was arrested in Italy, not as a result of he dedicated crimes in Italy however as a result of there was a world arrest warrant from the USA for this particular person,” Tajani mentioned. “Now the Italian courts are evaluating if extradition is feasible or not.”
Tajani famous that the scenario was delicate however mentioned he he hoped to deliver Sala dwelling as quickly as potential.
In September 2023 5 Individuals detained for years in Iran had been freed in change for 5 Iranians in U.S. custody and for $6 billion in frozen Iranian property to be launched by South Korea.
Roxana Saberi, an American journalist, was detained by Iran in 2009 for some 100 days earlier than being launched. Additionally detained by Iran was Washington Submit journalist Jason Rezaian, who was held for over 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.
