Tehran summons Italian ambassador to protest arrest of Iranian national

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the Italian ambassador to Tehran in protest at the continued detention of Iranian citizen Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, who is jailed in Milan over unfounded accusations.

Paola Amadei was called in on Friday by Director General of West Europe at the Iranian Foreign Ministry Majid Nili Ahmadabadi.

The Iranian diplomat said Abedini’s arrest is an “illegal” action taken by Italy at the request of the US government and in line with its “political and hostile” intentions.

He added that the US government seeks to take Iranian nationals across the world hostage by imposing extraterritorial enforcement of the country's domestic laws.

Nili Ahmadabadi warned that Iranian national’s detention would damage deep-rooted relations between Tehran and Rome.

It is also in violation of the principles and norms of international law, including human rights rules, and can amount to a form of arbitrary detention, he emphasized.

He called on Italy to reject the US hostage-taking policy, which is contrary to international law, and to prepare the necessary ground for Abedini's release as soon as possible.

The Iranian diplomat said the Italian government should not allow the US to damage Tehran-Rome relations.

The Italian ambassador indicated that she would bring the matter to his country’s officials as quickly as possible.

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Two Iranian nationals have been recently arrested in the United States and Italy, allegedly for their involvement in equipping drones used in attacks on American forces.

According to reports, the arrests are allegedly linked to a January 28 drone attack carried out by Iraqi armed groups against a US military outpost in Jordan known as Tower 22.

Abedini Najafabadi, 38, a mechanical engineering graduate from Sharif University of Technology, was detained on December 16 by Italian police at Milan Airport while preparing to travel to Switzerland.

The arrest, made at the United States’ request, has cut off all direct contact with him.

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