The Arrest of Iranian Engineer Mohammad Abedini at Malpensa: Details and Latest Developments

The Arrest of Iranian Engineer Mohammad Abedini at Malpensa: Details and Latest DevelopmentsOn December 16, 2024, Italian authorities arrested Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, a 38-year-old Iranian mechanical engineer, at Milan Malpensa Airport under a U.S. extradition request. Abedini is accused of illegally exporting electronic components to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions and providing material support to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.The Charges and International ContextAccording to U.S. authorities, Abedini allegedly used a Swiss-based company, Illumove SA, as a front to bypass sanctions and deliver advanced technologies to the IRGC. These technologies are believed to have been used in the production of drones, including those involved in a January 28, 2024, attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers.The arrest has sparked diplomatic tensions between Iran, Italy, and the United States. The Iranian government has called the arrest "illegal" and warned that it could harm bilateral relations with Italy. Tehran has also demanded Abedini’s immediate release, arguing that U.S. sanctions are unilateral and lack international legitimacy.