Cecilia Sala, a 29-year-old Italian journalist detained in Iran last month, has been released and is en route to Rome, according to the Italian government. Sala was arrested on December 19, just three days after Iranian engineer Mohammad Abedini was detained in Milan for allegedly supplying drone technology linked to the deaths of U.S. soldiers. Her arrest sparked widespread outrage in Italy and dominated media headlines for weeks.
Sala had been held in solitary confinement in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, known for its harsh conditions and for housing political prisoners. The circumstances surrounding her release remain unclear, but Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni credited “intense diplomatic and intelligence efforts” for securing Sala’s freedom.
In a statement, Meloni expressed gratitude to everyone involved in bringing Sala home. She personally informed Sala’s parents of her release and confirmed that Sala’s flight had departed Tehran, with an expected arrival in Rome at 15:30 (14:30 GMT) on Wednesday.
Sala’s partner, journalist Daniele Raineri, shared his relief, saying, “I spoke to her, and she told me, ‘I’ll see you soon.’ She was emotional and overjoyed.”
A High-Stakes Diplomatic Effort
Sala’s detention drew significant attention after her employer, Chora Media, announced her arrest on December 27. Reports suggested her case had become a matter of urgent priority for Prime Minister Meloni, who is believed to have discussed it during a recent meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Outgoing President Joe Biden is also set to visit Rome later this week, adding further diplomatic weight to the case.
Iran initially stated that Sala was detained for violating the country’s laws. However, U.S. officials suggested her arrest was politically motivated, potentially linked to the December 16 detention of Abedini in Milan. Abedini, who faces a U.S. warrant, is accused of supplying drone technology used in attacks on American soldiers. Some believe Sala was used as leverage in a complex political exchange.
Tehran has recently downplayed any connection between the two cases, though tensions over the arrests remain high.
Italian Intelligence Plays Key Role
Giovanni Caravelli, head of Italy’s foreign intelligence service, reportedly traveled to Tehran to oversee Sala’s return. His efforts appear to have been instrumental in securing her release. Sala’s father, Renato Sala, praised the government for its exceptional work, likening the situation to “a game of chess, but with more than two players.”
The ordeal has sparked broader discussions about the risks faced by journalists working in conflict zones or authoritarian countries. Sala’s safe return is a relief for her family, colleagues, and the broader Italian public, who had anxiously followed her story.
As Sala’s flight lands in Rome, her release marks the end of a harrowing chapter and highlights the critical role of diplomacy in resolving such high-stakes international incidents.
