Meeting held at Palazzo Chigi on detention of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala in Iran

The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, called a meeting at Palazzo Chigi this afternoon regarding the detention of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala in Iran. The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio, Undersecretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Alfredo Mantovano, and President Meloni’s Diplomatic Advisor, Fabrizio Saggio.

Following the meeting, the Government confirms its commitment to the immediate release of Cecilia Sala by the Iranian authorities and, in the meantime, to ensure she is treated in a dignified way.

With regard to Mohammad Abedini, who is currently being held in custody at the request of the United States authorities, the Government reaffirms that all detainees are guaranteed equal treatment in accordance with Italian law and international conventions.

In response to opposition parties’ requests, Undersecretary of State Mantovano, in his capacity as delegated authority, has confirmed his immediate availability to the President of the Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic (‘Comitato parlamentare per la sicurezza della Repubblica’, ‘COPASIR’), Lorenzo Guerini, to report to COPASIR, and thereby to Parliament, as early as tomorrow morning. 

This afternoon, President Meloni also had a telephone conversation with Renato Sala, Cecilia’s father, and met with her mother, Elisabetta Vernoni, at Palazzo Chigi.