Sala’s arrest in Tehran last month had sparked fears of a lengthy hostage crisis. Italy is expected to free Iranian businessman, wanted by the U.S., as part of a deal.

An Italian journalist detained in Iran last month has been freed and is on a flight back to Rome, the Italian government says. Cecilia Sala, 29, was arrested on 19 December, three days after an Iranian engineer was detained by Italian authorities in Milan on suspicion of supplying drone technology that led to the deaths of US soldiers.

An Italian journalist detained in Iran since Dec. 19 has been freed and is heading back to Italy, Premier Giorgia Meloni's office announced Wednesday. A plane carrying Cecilia Sala took off from Tehran after “intensive work on diplomatic and intelligence channels,

The arrest of Italian journalist Celia Sala in Iran and the detention of Swiss-Iranian national Mohammad Abedini at Milan’s Malpensa airport have drawn significant attention. Despite denials from Iranian authorities,

A plane carrying Cecilia Sala, 29, left Tehran after "intensive work on diplomatic and intelligence channels," Premier Giorgia Meloni's office said, adding that the Italian premier had personally informed Sala's parents of the news.

Cecilia Sala, the Italian journalist and podcaster, has been freed from detention in an Iranian prison, Italy's government has confirmed.

The reporter for the Il Foglio daily was detained in Tehran on December 19, three days after she arrived on a journalist visa.

Italian reporter Cecilia Sala hugged her partner and her parents on the tarmac at Rome's Ciampino military airport on Wednesday (January 8) after being freed from an Iranian prison. Sala was working under a regular journalistic visa when she was detained in Tehran on December 19,

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala had an emotional reunion with her boyfriend and her parents when she arrived in Italy after being released from detention in Iran. She was also welcomed back by Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni.

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala arrives in Rome after she was released from three weeks' detention in Iran.