Iran released an Italian journalist on Wednesday, Jan. 8, after detaining her for nearly a month. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office confirmed journalist Cecilia Sala’s release and said she is returning home to Italy.
Iranian authorities arrested Sala, 29, on Dec. 19, shortly after she arrived in the country on a journalist visa. Officials accused her of violating the laws of the Islamic Republic without providing specifics.
Reports suggested the 29-year-old journalist’s detention was connected to an Iranian engineer facing charges from the U.S. Justice Department.
Some Italian commentators believed Tehran detained Sala as a bargaining chip to secure the release of Iranian engineer Mohammad Abedini.
Three days before Sala’s arrest, Italian authorities arrested Abedini on a U.S. warrant.
The U.S. Justice Department indicted Abedini and another Iranian on charges of supplying Tehran with drone technology used to kill three American troops in Jordan in January 2024.
Abedini remains in custody in Italy.
Iran denied any involvement in the 2024 strike on U.S. forces and contends Abedini’s arrest is essentially hostage-taking.
Meanwhile, Italian lawmakers celebrated successful negotiations to bring Sala home.
Sala’s return comes days after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with President-elect Donald Trump.
No details of the meeting were released, but the deputy Italian prime minister said the pair discussed Sala’s situation.
An Italian newspaper reported Trump blessed the deal to bring Sala home on the condition it happened before his inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20.
