Elon Musk (AP file photo)
Tech billionaire Elon
Musk
was instrumental in the release of Italian journalist
Cecilia Sala
from an Iranian prison, according to a report by The New York Times.
Sala was detained in December amid growing tensions between
Iran
and Italy, with the latter holding an Iranian engineer sought by the US for alleged involvement in an attack on a US military base.
In December, when Cecilia Sala, a 29-year-old Italian journalist, was arrested in Iran, her boyfriend, journalist Daniele Raineri, feared the worst—she could remain imprisoned for years. Amid discussions of a possible prisoner swap between Iran and Italy, Raineri decided to reach out to Elon Musk for help, hoping his connections could make a difference, wrote The New York Times
Musk, known for his high-profile relationships with influential figures including US President Donald Trump, has a track record of engaging with Iran in a bid to ease tensions. Earlier in 2023, he reportedly had a secret meeting with the Iranian ambassador to the UN, positioning him as a potential key player in diplomatic negotiations.
Raineri, believing Musk's ties to Trump and Iran could be the perfect leverage, reportedly contacted an intermediary to reach the tech billionaire. Musk acknowledged the request and later played a role in facilitating the exchange, though details of his direct involvement remain unclear.
The release of Sala came on January 8, 2024. Four days later, Iran also released Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, an Iranian engineer detained by Italy at the request of the US. Abedini faced charges for allegedly providing drone technology to Iranian-backed militias.
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According to Iranian officials, the swift resolution was the result of "bilateral cooperation" between Italy and Iran. While Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia
Meloni
publicly praised the diplomatic work involved, she didn't say anything about Musk’s role. However, her meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in early January could have been part of the broader negotiations that led to the release.
A senior official from the Biden administration said that the US government was not consulted about the negotiations, nor were they informed in advance about the releases. John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, emphasised that the deal was entirely an "Italian decision from start to finish," as quoted by The New York Times.