Iran ready for a deal over its nuclear program, foreign minister says

Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, director general for Western Europe at Iran’s foreign ministry, called the arrest illegal, saying it was carried out at the request of the US as part of its "hostile agenda" against Iran, according to state media.

Ahmadabadi warned that the detention harms bilateral relations and violates international law, urging Italy to facilitate Abedini's release. The Italian ambassador reportedly pledged to convey the message to Rome.

State media reports on the summons made no mention of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who has been detained in Tehran in a likely attempt to exchange her for Abedini.

"I will pray for her and for myself", Italian media quoted Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi telling his attorney during a meeting Friday at Milan's Opera prison.

Abedini, 38, was arrested by Italian authorities last month at the behest of the United States for his alleged role in providing technology used to kill three US soldiers in a drone attack in Jordan.

Three days after his arrest, Sala was arrested on unspecified charges and placed in solitary confinement in Tehran’s Evin prison despite working in the country on a valid press pass.

Tehran has informed Rome that Sala’s release is contingent on Italy freeing Abedini.

Milan’s attorney general, Francesca Nanni, denied Mohammad Abedini’s request for conditional release on Thursday, citing a high risk of flight.

An appeals court in Milan has scheduled a hearing for January 15 to consider Abedini’s attorney’s request to transfer him to house arrest instead of remaining in Milan’s Opera prison.

“The situation of our daughter, Cecilia Sala, locked in a Tehran prison for 16 days, is complicated and very worrying," Italian media quoted her parents, Elizabeth Vernoni and Renato Sala, as saying in a statement.

"To try to bring her home, our government has mobilized to the maximum, and now, in addition to the efforts of the Italian authorities, confidentiality and discretion are also necessary.”

They added that the ongoing public debate could hinder progress, saying, “The stage we have reached is, however, very delicate, and the feeling is that the great media debate on what can or should be done risks prolonging the times and making a solution more complicated and distant."

"For this reason, we have decided to abstain from comments and statements and we appeal to the media asking for a press blackout,” they added.

"Afghanistan is expected to cooperate in keeping the flow of water and removing the obstacles that have been created," spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Thursday.

The Harirud Basin, a water basin shared by Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan, is now impacted by the construction of the Pashdan Dam on the Harirud River, which could significantly reduce water flow to Iran’s eastern province of Khorasan Razavi where over two million people depend on the river for drinking water.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly mentioned to Afghan parties, through appropriate means, especially through official diplomatic channels and functional (technical) mechanisms, that the use of water resources and basins cannot made without respecting Iran's rights in accordance with bilateral treaties," Baghaei added.

However, officials in Kabul say the Pashdan Dam project is necessary for agriculture. Afghanistan's ministry of energy and water says that alongside the Pashdan Dam, plans are underway for the construction of two additional dams on the Harirud River.

"Do not make the mistake of believing the country's problems can be resolved through negotiations. If the enemy senses that its pressure is effective, it will persist and intensify that pressure," Alamolhoda, the Supreme Leader's representative in northeast Khorasan Razavi province, said during Friday's sermon.

His comments come as some Iranian politicians have advocated for direct talks with incoming US President Donald Trump to ease sanctions which have wrought economic crisis.

On Tuesday, one of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's aides called for direct negotiations with Trump, emphasizing the need for a new foreign policy to strengthen international relations.

"We must negotiate with Mr. Trump. The country's issues cannot be left unresolved, and the entire establishment has also reached the conclusion that direct negotiations are necessary," state media quoted Ali Abdolalizadeh as saying.

In a separate interview with Etemad daily, prominent Reformist figure Ali Shakuri-Rad suggested that direct talks with the United States could help curb what he described as the outrageous behavior of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.