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An Italian journalist detained in Iran last month has been released and is on a flight back to Rome, the Italian government says.
Cecilia Sala, 29, was arrested on December 19, three days after Italian authorities detained an Iranian engineer in Milan on suspicion of supplying drone technology that led to the deaths of American soldiers.
Reports said she had been held in solitary confinement in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison.
It is unclear what led to Sala’s release, however the news was broken by officials under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who cited “intense work through diplomatic and intelligence channels.”
In the Italian statement, Meloni thanked “everyone who contributed to making Cecilia’s return possible.”
She had personally informed Sala’s parents about her release, she added. Sala’s plane had already left Tehran and was due to arrive in Rome at 3:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. GMT) on Wednesday, according to the Ansa news agency.
Her partner, journalist Daniele Raineri, also told Ansa: “I spoke to her and she told me ‘see you soon’, she was excited and very happy.”
The detention of Cecilia Sala in prison in Tehran outraged Italians and has grabbed headlines since her employer, the podcast company Chora Media, broke the news of her arrest on December 27.
Meloni is believed to have personally taken charge of his case and met with US President-elect Donald Trump at the weekend, when the journalist’s arrest is believed to have been discussed.
Outgoing President Joe Biden will visit Rome later this week.
Iran initially said it had detained Sala for “violation of the laws of the Islamic Republic”, however US State Department officials said he could be related to the arrest of Iranian national Mohammad Abedini at Malpensa airport in Milan on December 16.
He was arrested on a US warrant and an official told Italian media that Sala was being used for “political influence”.
Mohammad Abedini is due to appear in a Milan court on January 15, and Tehran has in recent days downplayed any connection between the two cases.
The head of Italy’s foreign intelligence service, Giovanni Caravelli, is said to have personally traveled to Tehran to bring Sala back to Italy.
Her father, Renato Sala, told Ansa news agency he was proud of her and praised the government for an “exceptional job.”
He said he had the impression that the situation had become a “chess game, but with more than two players.”
