Italy to host Quint group meeting to address Syria and Iran
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani will host a Quint group meeting in Rome on Thursday, focusing on the Middle East, particularly Syria and Iran, Italian media reported Tuesday.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani will host a Quint group meeting in Rome on Thursday, focusing on the Middle East, particularly Syria and Iran, Italian media reported Tuesday.
The gathering, set to take place at Villa Madama, will include US secretary of state Antony Blinken and representatives of the four European counterparts in the informal coalition known as 'Quint'; France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Tajani will discuss urgent issues such as the recent arrest of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala who travelled to Iran on December 13 with a journalist visa and was detained in Iran on December 19.
Iranian authorities cited “violating the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran” as the reason for her arrest, but have not released details of the charges.
However, a source familiar with discussions between Sala's family and the Italian government told Iran International that Tehran made clear to Rome that Sala's freedom depends on Italy's release of Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, an Iranian arrested at Washington's behest.
Iran has denied any link between Sala’s arrest and Abedini’s detention, with government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani saying on Tuesday that it "is in no way a retaliation."
Italian media reported Monday that following a meeting between Meloni and Trump, the incoming US premier has agreed to temporarily suspend Abedini's extradition.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini praised the diplomatic efforts. In a post on X he said: “Well done Giorgia Meloni for visiting US President-elect Donald Trump to talk about peace, industrial and commercial cooperation, security, and the freeing of Cecilia Sala.”
In a bid to pressure the government, the Italian foreign ministry summoned Iran’s ambassador in Rome, Mohammadreza Sabouri, on January 2 to demand her immediate release.
Italy now has a brief window to negotiate the journalist's release. Italian newspaper Il Giornale noted January 15 could be pivotal, as Milan's Court of Appeal rules on house arrest for Abedini, potentially enabling Italy to push for the same for Sala.
Rights groups have condemned Sala’s arrest, with the Lazio Journalists' Guild and the Rome Press Association organizing a protest on Tuesday to demand her immediate release.
