Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist detained in Iran, has been released and is on her way back to Italy, according to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office.
Sala, 29, had been working in Tehran on a legitimate journalistic visa but found herself behind bars on December 19 in the infamous Evin prison, held in solitary confinement.
Her arrest came just three days after Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini was detained in Milan under a U.S. warrant. Abedini allegedly supplied drone components used in a 2024 attack that killed three American soldiers in Jordan, a claim Iran has flatly denied.
Italy credited Sala’s release to “intense work on diplomatic and intelligence channels,” though the official statement steered clear of linking the case to Abedini. Sources confirmed that Abedini remains in custody in Milan.
Prime Minister Meloni expressed gratitude on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “I want to express my gratitude to everyone who helped make Cecilia’s return possible.” She was expected to personally welcome Sala upon her arrival in Rome.
Sala, known for her work with Il Foglio and Chora Media, avoided what many feared could be a prolonged ordeal. Her quick release is being touted as a diplomatic win for Meloni, whose government worked tirelessly to secure her freedom.
Adding intrigue to the situation, Meloni recently made a surprise visit to Florida for talks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. While no official details emerged from the meeting, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini suggested Sala’s release was on the agenda. Some reports claimed Trump had approved a deal to secure Sala’s freedom before his January 20 inauguration, though Meloni’s office remained mum on such speculation.
Iran has a history of detaining foreign nationals on security and espionage charges, which human rights groups argue is often a bargaining tactic. Tehran has dismissed these claims, but the timing of Sala’s arrest raised eyebrows. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei called Abedini’s detention in Milan “hostage-taking.”
For now, Sala’s return marks the resolution of a tense international standoff, leaving questions about the underlying political maneuvering unanswered.
