The Italian Ministry of Justice has taken action to release the Iranian person wanted by the United States

Italy’s justice minister on Sunday asked the Italian government to overturn the arrest of an Iranian man wanted by the United States for allegedly supplying material used in a drone attack that killed three American soldiers.

Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, 38, was arrested in Milan last month and the US Department of Justice has requested his extradition. He was accused of illegally providing materials used in an attack on a military base in Jordan by an Iran-backed militia.

On Sunday, the Italian Ministry of Justice said there were no grounds to extradite him. Shortly after the announcement, Iranian state media and Mr. Abedini’s lawyer said he was free, but the Italian government has not yet confirmed this.

The Italian ministry’s request to lift the arrest came a few days later Iran released the Italian reporter Cecilia Sala, who was arrested in Iran three days after Mr. Abedini was detained. He was arrested on charges of violating the Islamic Republic’s laws, although the Iranian government has never released details.

Although the Italian government has never confirmed any link between the two cases, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said last week Ms Sala’s release was the result of diplomatic “triangulation” with the US and Iran.

Shortly after Italy’s announcement, Iran’s state news agency IRNA said the man would “return to his country in a few hours.”

In a government statement on Sunday, Italy’s Justice Ministry said that under the extradition treaty between Italy and the United States, a person can only be extradited for crimes punishable in both countries. They said Mr. Abedini’s case did not meet the criteria.

One of the crimes he was charged with – conspiring to export sophisticated electronic components in violation of US export control and sanctions laws – is not punishable in Italy, the ministry said.

Italy’s Justice Ministry also said it had no evidence to support another charge against Mr. Abedini: that he allegedly provided financial support to a foreign terrorist organization. The Justice Department said it knew only that Mr. Abedini produced and traded technologies with Iran that had potential military uses, but were not exclusive.

Leily Nicounazar contributed to the report.