Italy and Iran Engage in Diplomatic Standoff over Arrests of Citizens

Italy summoned Iran’s ambassador on Thursday to demand the release of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was detained in Tehran on December 16, while Iran called for the release of Iranian citizen Mohammad Abedini, arrested in Italy on a U.S. warrant. The escalating diplomatic tension between the three nations is rooted in a complex series of events involving a deadly drone attack in Jordan that killed three American troops in January 2024.

Sala, a reporter for the Italian daily Il Foglio, was detained in Tehran shortly after arriving on a journalist visa, with Iranian authorities citing violations of the country’s laws. In retaliation, Iran has demanded the release of Abedini, one of two Iranian suspects charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for supplying drone technology used in the deadly attack on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan.

The Iranian Embassy in Italy characterized the meeting between Iranian Ambassador Mohammadreza Sabouri and Italy’s foreign ministry secretary general, Riccardo Guariglia, as “friendly,” but tensions remain high as both sides navigate the intricate diplomatic dispute.