Musk played no part in release of journalist held in Iran, Italy says

Editorial & Advertiser disclosure

Global Banking and Finance Review is an online platform offering news, analysis, and opinion on the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the banking and finance industry worldwide. The platform covers a diverse range of topics, including banking, insurance, investment, wealth management, fintech, and regulatory issues. The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website.

Finance

Posted By Global Banking and Finance Review

Posted on January 17, 2025

Musk played no part in release of journalist held in Iran, Italy says

ROME (Reuters) - Elon Musk played no role in negotiations between Italy and Iran for the release of a journalist who was held in a Tehran prison, Italy's foreign minister said on Friday, dismissing a media report that the U.S. billionaire had been involved.

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala returned home last week after being detained in Iran last month during a reporting trip. Shortly afterwards, Italy released an Iranian businessman who had been arrested in Milan on a U.S. warrant a few days before Sala was taken to prison.

"Musk ... has nothing to do with Cecilia Sala's case. He played no role. The case was settled by the Italian government," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told broadcaster SkyTG24.

The New York Times reported on Wednesday that Musk had helped secure Sala's release, at the request of her boyfriend, by reaching out to Iran's ambassador to the United Nations.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is a friend of Musk's, told reporters on Jan. 9 that she had no information on whether he had been involved in the case.

Musk, who was a leading supporter of President-elect Donald Trump's White House campaign and is poised to take up a role advising him on cutting government spending, said on Thursday he had "played a small role."

"I did not have any interaction with Iran. Just recommended support from the U.S. side," he wrote on his social network X.

Sala was released three days after Meloni made a surprise visit to Florida to see Trump. The trip played a role in the reporter's release, an Italian political source said.

(Reporting by Angelo Amante and Sara Rossi; Editing by Gavin Jones and Frances Kerry)

Recommended for you