ROME — Iran has demanded the release of an Iranian-Swiss drone engineer detained in Milan in exchange for Cecilia Sala’s freedom, the Corriere della Sera reported. 

 A United States federal court issued an international arrest warrant for Mohammad Abedini-Najafabad on 13 December, accusing the Iranian-Swiss national of supplying weapons and drones to terrorist groups. Three days later, Italian police tipped off by American intelligence arrested the engineer after he flew to Milan Malpensa airport from Istanbul. 

  Italian courts are evaluating Abedini-Najafabad’s extradition to the United States is “possible or not,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told media. Tajani did not confirm the Corriere’s reporting. 

 Iranian police arrested Sala, 29, at her Tehran hotel on 19 December. Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance said the Il Foglio journalist was charged with violating the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran. She is in solitary confinement at Iran's Evin prison, Iran's primary detention center for political prisoners. 

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