Italy Denies Musk's Contact with Islamic Republic Representative Regarding Sala

Antonio Tajani, the Italian Foreign Minister, on Friday, January 28, denied media reports regarding Elon Musk, the American billionaire, stating that he had no role in negotiations between Rome and Tehran for the release of Cecilia Sala, the Italian journalist in Iran. According to Reuters, Mr. Tajani emphasized in an interview with an Italian television network: 'This case was resolved by the Italian government.' Earlier, The New York Times reported on Wednesday, January 26, that Musk had assisted in Sala's release at the request of her boyfriend by contacting the Islamic Republic's ambassador to the United Nations. Prior to that, Georgia Meloni, the Italian Prime Minister, who is a friend of Mr. Musk, had told reporters on January 19 that she had no information regarding whether he was involved in this case or not. Meanwhile, Elon Musk stated on Thursday, January 27, that he had 'played a small role.' He wrote on the social media platform 'X': 'I had no interaction with Iran. I only supported on behalf of the United States.' Cecilia Sala, a 29-year-old Italian citizen collaborating with the newspaper 'Il Folibo' and 'Chura Media,' was arrested by the intelligence forces of the Islamic Republic on December 20. Ms. Sala had officially traveled to Iran with a press visa and had published reports on recent developments in Iran following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria. Some media outlets, citing a spokesperson from the U.S. State Department, reported that the arrest of this Italian journalist by the Islamic Republic was in retaliation for the arrest of Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, a Swiss-Iranian citizen, in Italy. Ms. Sala was released on January 19 and returned to Rome. After that, Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi was released and returned to Iran. Abedini Najafabadi was arrested in Italy for violating U.S. sanctions against Iran regarding the transfer of drone technology to Iran. He was supposed to be transferred to the United States. Cecilia Sala, the 'kidnapped' Italian journalist, was released. Mohammad Abedini, accused of violating U.S. sanctions, returned to Iran. France summoned the Islamic Republic's ambassador to protest against the 'kidnapping' by the Iranian government.