Italy’s attorney general has requested the withdrawal of the arrest of an Iranian man being investigated by the United States on suspicion of providing substances used in an attack that killed three U.S. soldiers, the Italian government announced Sunday.
Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, 38, was arrested in Milan last month and the U.S. Justice Department has requested his extradition. He was accused of illegally providing supplies used by Iranian-backed militias to carry out drone attacks on US military bases in Jordan.
On Sunday evening, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that Mr. Abedini had arrived in Tehran. Despite repeated requests for confirmation, Italy has yet to release the man or announce that he has left the country.
The Italian ministry’s request to the court comes just days after Iran released Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was arrested in Iran three days after Mr. Abedini was detained. She was arrested on suspicion of violating the Islamic Republic’s laws, but the Iranian government did not release details.
The Italian government has not confirmed any link between the two cases, but Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said last week that Mr Salah’s release was the result of diplomatic “triangular negotiations” with the United States and Iran.
On Sunday, Italy’s justice ministry said there were no grounds to extradite Mr. Abedini. A U.S. Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment.
Citing the Judiciary Media Center, IRNA reported on Sunday that Mr Abedini’s arrest was a misunderstanding resolved through diplomacy between Iran and Italy and cooperation between Iranian and Italian intelligence services.
In a government statement on Sunday, Italy’s Justice Ministry said it could only extradite people for crimes punishable in both countries under the extradition treaty between Italy and the United States. They said Mr Abedini’s case did not meet the criteria.
One of the crimes he is accused of – conspiring to export sophisticated electronic components in violation of U.S. export controls and sanctions laws – is not punishable in Italy, the Pentagon said.
Italy’s Justice Ministry also said it had not received evidence to justify another accusation that Abedini provided material support to foreign terrorist organizations. The Justice Department said it only knew that Mr. Abedini had produced and traded with Iran technology that had potential but not military use.
Rayleigh Nikunazar contributed reporting from Brussels; Devlin Barrett In Washington.
