ROME (Reuters) – The USA has not submitted any formal request of extradition for an Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini detained in Milan, Italy’s justice minister stated in an interview revealed on Thursday.
“The matter of Abedini is purely legal … regardless of the (freeing of Italian journalist) Cecilia Sala. It is premature to talk of extradition, also because no formal request has been sent to our ministry so far,” Justice Minister Carlo Nordio informed each day La Stampa.
Abedini is needed by the USA on suspicion of involvement in a drone strike in opposition to U.S. forces in Jordan. Iran has denied involvement and stated final week the detention of the Iranian nationwide amounted to hostage-taking.
His arrest has been linked to the detention three days later of Italian reporter Cecilia Sala, who was seized in Tehran on Dec. 19 whereas working below a daily journalistic visa and freed on Jan. 8.
