Italian journalist Cecilia Sala arrives in Rome after weeks of detention in Iranian prison

Italian Journalist Cecilia Sala was freed from detention and returned home to the Italian capital on Wednesday after weeks in an Iranian prison.

A plane carrying Sala, who is 29 years old, landed at Rome’s Ciampino airport. She was welcomed by her relieved family members and partner. As she descended from the plane, Sala ran to embrace her boyfriend, Daniele Raineri.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was also present to welcome Sala back alongside her family. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri were also present.

Meloni and Sala met inside the building, where the two shook hands and briefly talked. The Italian premier was heard praising Sala telling her, “You were strong”.

Sala was detained in Iran for three weeks, the vast majority of which she spent in solitary confinement after her fate had become intertwined with that of an Iranian national arrested in Italy and wanted in the US for alleged arms sales.

Her arrest in Tehran on 19 December came just three days after Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini was apprehended in Milan on a US warrant. Washington had been seeking Abedini and another Iranian national’s arrests for allegedly supplying drone parts that the White House says were used in last year's attack that killed three US service members in Jordan that Iran denied involvement in.

Sala, a reporter for the Il Foglio daily, was detained just one week after arriving in the Iranian capital on a journalist visa. According to state news agency IRNA, she was accused of violating the laws of the Islamic Republic.

Italian analysts had speculated that Tehran detained Sala as a bargaining chip to ensure the release of Abedini. Iranian officials dismissed these allegations and stressed that Sala’s arrest was in no way a move to pressure Rome into releasing Abedini.

Abedini – arrested on 16 December at Milan’s Malpensa Airport – remains in detention in Italy. He’s asked a Milan court to grant him house arrest as he awaits an extradition hearing.

Meloni’s office says the Italian premier had personally informed Sala’s parents about their daughter’s release. Meloni credited her release to the government’s “intensive work on diplomatic and intelligence channels”.

Sala’s liberation marked a major diplomatic and political victory for Meloni. The Italian leader, whose recent visit to US President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate greatly enhanced her international stature when Italy negotiated her release.

Sala’s arrival was met with approval in Italy, where her plight had dominated headlines for weeks. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum praised the outcome.

Opposition centre-left Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein thanked the government for securing the Italian journalist's safe return.