Iran has denied any connection between the detention of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala and the arrest of Iranian national Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi in Milan, describing reports of a reciprocal exchange as false.

“These two matters are entirely unrelated,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said during a press briefing on Monday. “The Italian journalist was detained for violating Iranian laws, while the Iranian individual was arrested for circumventing US sanctions.”

Baghaei also criticized what he described as the US targeting Iranian citizens abroad.

“Several Iranian nationals are pursued and extradited in certain countries at the request of the US, which we consider a form of hostage-taking,” he said.

However, a source familiar with discussions between Sala's family and the Italian government told Iran International that Tehran made clear to Rome that Sala's freedom depends on Italy's release of Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, an Iranian arrested at Washington's behest.