WANA (Jan 02) – Following the arrest of an Italian citizen for violating Iran’s laws, Iran’s ambassador to Italy was summoned to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

 

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed the summons of the Iranian ambassador to Rome over the arrest of an Italian citizen in Iran.

 

Tajani announced the social media platform X earlier today, stating that he had issued the directive for the ambassador’s summoning and that a meeting would take place at 12 PM local time.

 

Previously, Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance issued a statement explaining the reasons behind the arrest of this woman in Iran.

 

The Ministry’s General Directorate of Foreign Media revealed that Cecilia Sala, the Italian citizen who arrived in Iran on a journalistic visa on December 13, 2023, was arrested on December 19, 2023, on charges of violating the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

 

The statement clarified that the case is still under investigation and that the arrest was carried out in accordance with relevant regulations. The Italian Embassy in Tehran has been informed, and consular access has been granted. Sala has been able to contact her family by phone.

 

Earlier, the Italian Foreign Minister had referred to the case of the detained journalist as “complicated,” but expressed hope that she would be quickly returned home.