Photo Credit: Getty Images
Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has returned to Rome after weeks of detention in an Iranian prison. The 29-year-old was arrested on December 19th, reportedly held in solitary confinement at Tehran's notorious Evin prison. Her arrest came three days after Italian authorities detained an Iranian engineer in Milan, suspected of providing drone technology that resulted in the deaths of US soldiers.
She was greeted by her partner as she left the plane at Rome's Ciampino airport before being welcomed home by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is understood to have taken personal charge of her case.
A well known podcaster, Cecilia Sala's detention in prison in Tehran outraged Italians and has dominated headlines since her employer, Chora Media, broke the news of her arrest on 27 December.
Iran said initially it had detained Sala for "violation of the Islamic Republic's laws", however US state department officials said it could be linked to the arrest of Iranian national Mohammad Abedini at Malpensa airport in Milan on 16 December. He was arrested on a US warrant and one official told Italian media that Sala was being used as "political leverage".
It is unclear what led to Iran freeing her, however the news was broken in a statement from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who cited "intense work through diplomatic and intelligence channels".
Meloni met US president-elect Donald Trump at the weekend, when the journalist's detention is thought to have been discussed.
Meloni thanked "all those who contributed to making Cecilia's return possible".
Mohammad Abedini is due to go before a court in Milan on 15 January, and Tehran has in recent days played down any connection between the two cases.
The head of Italy's foreign intelligence service, Giovanni Caravelli, is said to have travelled to Tehran personally to bring Sala back to Italy.
Her father Renato Sala told Ansa he was proud of her and praised the government for an "exceptional job".
Outgoing president Joe Biden is due to visit Rome later this week.
