 "Elon Musk reportedly spoke to Iranian officials to secure Italian journalist Sala's release. File image/Reuters")
The release of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala from an Iranian prison has sparked speculation about the involvement of tech billionaire Elon Musk, with Tehran dismissing reports of his role as a “media fantasy.”
Cecilia Sala, a 29-year-old journalist, was arrested in Iran in December, setting off fears she could face a prolonged detention. Her release last week coincided with Italy freeing an Iranian engineer accused of aiding militias that attacked a US base, raising speculation of a backchannel deal.
Sala’s boyfriend’s request to Musk
Sala’s boyfriend, journalist Daniele Raineri, had said in an interview that he sought Musk’s help after hearing of the billionaire’s links to Iranian diplomats. He reached out through an intermediary, Andrea Stroppa, an Italian computer expert and Musk associate, on December 29.
Stroppa confirmed he relayed the request to Musk, who had acknowledged it. However, the computer expert said he was unaware of Musk’s subsequent actions.
Officials claim Musk facilitated Sala’s release
The New York Times cited two Iranian officials, including a senior diplomat, as claiming that Musk facilitated Sala’s release by contacting Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani.
These officials claimed that Musk reconnected with Iravani after Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Mar-a-Lago to meet President-elect Donald Trump earlier this month.
Meloni described Sala’s release as a product of “diplomatic triangulation with Iran and the United States”.
Adding intrigue, Musk had reportedly met with Iravani in November, weeks before Ms. Sala’s detention, to discuss US-Iran tensions. These interactions, combined with Musk’s ties to Trump and Meloni, have fuelled speculation about his behind-the-scenes role in the release.
The timing of the releases has drawn scrutiny. Sala was freed on January 8, and four days later, Italy released Iranian engineer Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, who was wanted by the US for his alleged role in supplying drone technology to militias.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIran denies Musk’s involvement
Iran has publicly denied Musk’s involvement. Esmail Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dismissed the claims as “storytelling and media fantasy.”
A senior Biden administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, criticized the swap, saying the US was neither consulted nor informed in advance. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby characterized the exchange as “an Italian decision from soup to nuts.”
Meloni notably did not confirm Musk’s involvement. “If he had a role, I am not aware of it,” she said during a press conference.
The ambiguity surrounding Musk’s role only serves to show his unconventional foray into diplomacy.
Whether Musk was a key player or a convenient narrative in the diplomatic web, one thing is clear: his presence in global affairs is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.