Italy's justice minister has called for the arrest of an Iranian man wanted by the United States for allegedly supplying the equipment used in the attack on three American soldiers, the Italian government said Sunday.
Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, 38, was arrested last month in Milan and the US Department of Justice had requested his extradition. He was charged with illegally supplying material used in an attack on an Iranian-backed military base in Jordan.
On Sunday, Italy's Ministry of Justice said it had no grounds to extradite him. Shortly after the announcement, the Iranian state media and Mr. Abedi say he is free, but the Italian government has not yet confirmed that.
The request of the Italian ministry to cancel the arrest of this incident came a few days after Iran released the Italian journalist, Cecilia Sala, who was arrested in Iran three days after Mr. He has been arrested on suspicion of violating the laws of the Islamic Republic, although the Iranian government has not provided details.
Although the Italian government has not confirmed that there is a connection between the two cases, Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni said last week that Ms.
Shortly after Italy's announcement, IRNA, Iran's state news agency, said the man “will return to his country in a few hours.”
In a government statement on Sunday, the Italian Ministry of Justice said that according to the extradition agreement between Italy and the United States, a person can be extradited for crimes punishable in both countries. They say that Mr. Abedini's case does not comply with the conditions.
One of the charges he is accused of – conspiring to export sophisticated electronic components in violation of US export control and sanctions laws – is not punishable in Italy, the ministry said.
The Italian Ministry of Justice also said it had not found evidence to confirm another charge against Mr Abedini: that he allegedly provided material support to a foreign terrorist organisation. The Department of Justice said it only knew that Mr. Abedi produced and traded technology with Iran for powerful, but not exclusive, military use.
Leily Nikounazar reporting contributed.
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