Italy Says No US Extradition Request for Detained Iranian Businessman So Far

A seagull stands in front of an Italian flag flying at half-mast on the Altare della Patri-Vittorio Emanuele II monument in Rome, Tuesday, March 31, 2020. (AFP Photo)
A seagull stands in front of an Italian flag flying at half-mast on the Altare della Patri-Vittorio Emanuele II monument in Rome, Tuesday, March 31, 2020. (AFP Photo)
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Italy Says No US Extradition Request for Detained Iranian Businessman So Far

A seagull stands in front of an Italian flag flying at half-mast on the Altare della Patri-Vittorio Emanuele II monument in Rome, Tuesday, March 31, 2020. (AFP Photo)
A seagull stands in front of an Italian flag flying at half-mast on the Altare della Patri-Vittorio Emanuele II monument in Rome, Tuesday, March 31, 2020. (AFP Photo)

The United States has not submitted any formal request of extradition for an Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini detained in Milan, Italy's justice minister said in an interview published on Thursday.
"The matter of Abedini is purely legal ... regardless of the (freeing of Italian journalist) Cecilia Sala. It is premature to talk of extradition, also because no formal request has been sent to our ministry so far," Justice Minister Carlo Nordio told daily La Stampa.
Abedini is wanted by the United States on suspicion of involvement in a drone strike against US forces in Jordan. Iran has denied involvement and said last week the detention of the Iranian national amounted to hostage-taking.
His arrest has been linked to the detention three days later of Italian reporter Cecilia Sala, who was seized in Tehran on Dec. 19 while working under a regular journalistic visa and freed on Jan. 8.



Greenland Leader Says Everyone Should Respect Island’s Wish for Independence

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the Chairman of Naalakkersuisut, Mute B. Egede attend a press conference in the Mirror Hall at the Prime Minister's Office, at Christiansborg in Copenhagen, Friday, January 10, 2025. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/via Reuters)
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the Chairman of Naalakkersuisut, Mute B. Egede attend a press conference in the Mirror Hall at the Prime Minister's Office, at Christiansborg in Copenhagen, Friday, January 10, 2025. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/via Reuters)
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Greenland Leader Says Everyone Should Respect Island’s Wish for Independence

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the Chairman of Naalakkersuisut, Mute B. Egede attend a press conference in the Mirror Hall at the Prime Minister's Office, at Christiansborg in Copenhagen, Friday, January 10, 2025. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/via Reuters)
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the Chairman of Naalakkersuisut, Mute B. Egede attend a press conference in the Mirror Hall at the Prime Minister's Office, at Christiansborg in Copenhagen, Friday, January 10, 2025. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/via Reuters)

Greenland's leader said on Friday he had not been in contact with incoming US president Donald Trump, who has said he wants control over the Arctic island, and urged everyone to respect Greenland's wish for independence.

Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, said this week that US control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, was an "absolute necessity" and did not rule out using military or economic action such as tariffs against Denmark to make it happen.

"We have a desire for independence, a desire to be the master of our own house ... This is something everyone should respect," Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede said at a joint press conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen.