Iran's Alleged Hostage Diplomacy Sparks International Tensions

Iran has accused the U.S. of hostage-taking after Italian authorities detained Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini in Milan. The incident is linked to the arrest of Italian reporter Cecilia Sala in Tehran. Iran claims these actions reflect unfair U.S. practices, citing violations of human rights and unilateral sanctions.

Iran's government on Monday criticized the detention of Iranian national Mohammad Abedini in Italy, likening it to hostage-taking at the behest of the United States. Abedini, implicated in a drone strike against U.S. forces in Jordan, was detained based on a U.S. warrant. Iran has firmly denied these allegations.

The arrest is shadowed by the detention of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, apprehended days later in Tehran while on assignment. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei argued that pursuing Iranian nationals under such pretexts is illegal and constitutes human rights violations. Baghaei dismissed any direct connection between the two cases.

Amid these tensions, Italy's foreign ministry has demanded Sala's release, expressing serious concerns about her situation. The case contributes to a broader pattern of Iran's contentious arrests of foreigners, which rights organizations criticize as attempts to leverage international concessions. Iran persistently refutes such accusations.

(With inputs from agencies.)