Paul Moss

had a warrant out for Mr. Abedini's arrest. And indeed, he was arrested by Italy when he arrived at Milan's Malpensa airport. Iran was furious. They said the evidence was fabricated, but the United States wanted him extradited.

had a warrant out for Mr. Abedini's arrest. And indeed, he was arrested by Italy when he arrived at Milan's Malpensa airport. Iran was furious. They said the evidence was fabricated, but the United States wanted him extradited.

Cecilia Sala was in Iran making a podcast about Iranian life. She had accreditation, but she was arrested last month for allegedly violating the laws of the Islamic Republic. I'm not clear exactly what that was supposed to mean, but she did have a terrible time. She was held in the notorious Evian prison. She slept on the floor. She was kept isolated, she says.

Cecilia Sala was in Iran making a podcast about Iranian life. She had accreditation, but she was arrested last month for allegedly violating the laws of the Islamic Republic. I'm not clear exactly what that was supposed to mean, but she did have a terrible time. She was held in the notorious Evian prison. She slept on the floor. She was kept isolated, she says.

But only a few days ago, she was released and allowed to go home.

But only a few days ago, she was released and allowed to go home.

Yeah, what can I say? I don't think there are many people who are going to believe that this is purely a coincidence. It certainly looks like a prisoner swap. Of course, it suits Iran and Italy to deny the connection because neither wants to look like they gave in to pressure from the other.

Yeah, what can I say? I don't think there are many people who are going to believe that this is purely a coincidence. It certainly looks like a prisoner swap. Of course, it suits Iran and Italy to deny the connection because neither wants to look like they gave in to pressure from the other.

The trouble is, of course, if prisoners can be used as bargaining chips, then there's an incentive for countries to, you know, randomly arrest foreigners. And of course, we've seen this with Russia. There have been lots of swaps where you had Russians held in the United States and Europe for things like espionage. They were released.

The trouble is, of course, if prisoners can be used as bargaining chips, then there's an incentive for countries to, you know, randomly arrest foreigners. And of course, we've seen this with Russia. There have been lots of swaps where you had Russians held in the United States and Europe for things like espionage. They were released.

And then in return, very openly, either foreigners held in Russia or dissidents there were released. Now, this does mean, of course, that people will think twice about visiting these countries if they could end up in jail effectively as a sort of diplomatic currency.

And then in return, very openly, either foreigners held in Russia or dissidents there were released. Now, this does mean, of course, that people will think twice about visiting these countries if they could end up in jail effectively as a sort of diplomatic currency.

It was a simple stunt. A team working for the Consumers Association took flights on different airlines and each time they deliberately left a mobile phone behind. Every phone had a message on the screen saying that it was lost and giving a number to call to return it. Nobody did call, but the team then found it difficult or impossible to find anyone from the airline who had helped them.

It was a simple stunt. A team working for the Consumers Association took flights on different airlines and each time they deliberately left a mobile phone behind. Every phone had a message on the screen saying that it was lost and giving a number to call to return it. Nobody did call, but the team then found it difficult or impossible to find anyone from the airline who had helped them.

All said they had outsourced lost property to other companies. EasyJet directed them to the arrival airport's lost property, but the airport said they didn't handle property left on planes. With British Airways, the team had activated the Find My Phone function, so they could see that the handset had a rather mysterious journey – ending up in a countryside cottage.

All said they had outsourced lost property to other companies. EasyJet directed them to the arrival airport's lost property, but the airport said they didn't handle property left on planes. With British Airways, the team had activated the Find My Phone function, so they could see that the handset had a rather mysterious journey – ending up in a countryside cottage.

Meanwhile, the phone left on a Ryanair flight from Malta to London found its way into the hands of an Italian airport employee. He did offer to courier it back in return for $60. In a statement, British Airways said it was nonsense to suggest they didn't care about lost property, while EasyJet insisted it had procedures in place to return it. Ryanair dismissed the exercise as a waste of time.

Meanwhile, the phone left on a Ryanair flight from Malta to London found its way into the hands of an Italian airport employee. He did offer to courier it back in return for $60. In a statement, British Airways said it was nonsense to suggest they didn't care about lost property, while EasyJet insisted it had procedures in place to return it. Ryanair dismissed the exercise as a waste of time.

We know that she was arrested on the 19th of December. She has since been freed. Wednesday morning in Tehran, and she is now back in Rome. And she looks in good condition because we have pictures of her arriving, being greeted by her boyfriend, and later by Giorgio Maloney, the prime minister, who took personal charge of her case. How was her release negotiated so quickly?

We know that she was arrested on the 19th of December. She has since been freed. Wednesday morning in Tehran, and she is now back in Rome. And she looks in good condition because we have pictures of her arriving, being greeted by her boyfriend, and later by Giorgio Maloney, the prime minister, who took personal charge of her case. How was her release negotiated so quickly?