Iran welcomes return of national held in Italy in spat involving the US

Tehran, Iran – Iran's Foreign Ministry and judiciary have confirmed that Iranian national Mohammad Abedini, who was arrested in Italy at the behest of the United States, has been released. Abedini was returned to Tehran after being arrested as part of a "misunderstanding", Mizan, the official news outlet of the judiciary, said on Sunday. The report, also aired by state television, said his release was secured after talks between the Iranian intelligence ministry and the Italian intelligence service. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei in a short statement welcomed the release of the Iranian national, who is accused by Washington of involvement with a January 2024 drone attack on a US outpost in Jordan that killed three American soldiers. He stressed the ministry would defend the rights of Iranian nationals abroad.