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MILAN (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is flying to Florida to meet with President-elect Donald Trump, Italian media reported on Saturday.
The meeting, if confirmed, will come at a time when Meloni faces a test of foreign policy following the arrest of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala in Iran on December 19 while working under permanent journalist visa.
Sala was detained three days after Mohammad Abedini, an Iranian businessman, was arrested at Milan Malpensa airport on a US warrant for allegedly supplying drone parts that Washington says were used. in the 2023 attack that killed three United States service members in Jordan. Iran has denied any involvement in the attack.
“We are not talking about meetings that may or may not happen, but it is not surprising that world leaders have reached out to President Trump after his historic victory in reform good relations with the United States,” said Trump’s spokesman, Steven Cheung.
Meloni’s office did not immediately comment on media reports, citing unnamed sources, that he planned to meet with Trump.
On Friday, Iran’s foreign ministry summoned the Italian ambassador over Abedini’s detention, Iranian state media reported.
State media reported that an Iranian foreign ministry official “urged Italy to reject the American detention policy – which is against international law, especially human rights – and to grant the release of Mr. Abedini as soon as possible and to prevent damage to bilateral relations”.
Abedini remains in jail and a court will decide later this month whether to give him his home while judges consider an extradition request to the US.
Italian media have reported that Sala is being held in solitary confinement in a freezing cold cell with the neon light left on day and night, that his glasses have been taken and that he has not been in contact with the outside world. and outside.
