Cecilia Sala, a 29-year-old Italian journalist detained in Iran for three weeks, has been released and returned to Rome, marking the end of a high-profile diplomatic effort.
Her case had drawn significant attention, partly due to its apparent connection to the arrest of an Iranian engineer in Italy wanted by the United States.
Sala’s plane landed at Rome’s Ciampino Airport on Wednesday, where she was greeted by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Sala’s family, and her boyfriend, Daniele Raineri.
Meloni praised Sala for her resilience, telling her, “You were strong,” during a brief meeting at the airport. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri were also present to celebrate her return.
Sala, a reporter for “Il Foglio”, was arrested in Tehran on December 19, shortly after arriving on a journalist visa.
Iranian authorities accused her of violating the country’s laws, although details of the charges remain unclear. Sala spent most of her detention in solitary confinement.
Her arrest occurred just three days after Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini was detained in Milan on a US warrant.
Washington alleges that Abedini was involved in supplying drone parts used in a 2024 attack that killed three US service members in Jordan—a claim Iran denies.
Italian analysts speculated that Sala’s arrest was a strategic move by Tehran to secure Abedini’s release. However, Iranian officials dismissed these claims, asserting that her detention was unrelated to the businessman’s case.
Sala’s release is being hailed as a significant diplomatic achievement for Prime Minister Meloni, whose government engaged in intense diplomatic and intelligence efforts to ensure her safe return.
Meloni personally informed Sala’s parents of her release, crediting the outcome to coordinated governmental efforts.
The timing coincided with Meloni’s recent visit to US President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate, which bolstered her international standing during the sensitive negotiations.
While Sala has been freed, Abedini remains in detention in Italy, awaiting an extradition hearing. He has requested house arrest while his case is pending.
In Italy, Sala’s safe return was met with widespread relief and applause. Politicians across the political spectrum, including opposition Democratic leader Elly Schlein, praised the government’s role in securing her release.
Cecilia Sala’s plight had dominated headlines for weeks, highlighting the risks journalists face in volatile regions.
