After 3 weeks in prison

Journalist Cecilia Sala released in Iran

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who has been imprisoned in Tehran since December 19, has been released.(Bild: AP)

Journalist Cecilia Sala, who was arrested in Iran almost three weeks ago, has been released by the Iranian authorities. The 29-year-old is already back in Rome.

The reporter was received by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri at Rome Ciampino Airport. The journalist appeared to be in good health. Sala had been arrested for "violating the laws of the Islamic Republic (Iran)".

The Senate in Rome reacted to the news of the journalist's release with long applause.(Bild: AFP)

Applause in the Senate after her release
"Diplomatic work and team spirit: This allows us to bring Cecilia Sala home," commented the Italian Foreign Minister on X. The Senate in Rome reacted to the news of the journalist's release with long applause.

The journalist's father, Renato Sala, thanked Italian diplomacy for its "extraordinary work" in negotiating the reporter's release.

Will Iranian arrested in Italy be extradited to the USA?
It is suspected that the arrest of an Iranian with a Swiss passport at Malpensa airport near Milan on December 16 prompted the Iranian authorities to detain the reporter. The man wanted by the US judiciary is accused of supplying drone parts. These were allegedly used in an attack in January 2023 in which three US soldiers were killed in Jordan.

The Iranian, who denies the allegations, is in custody in Milan. The judiciary must decide on his extradition to the USA. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio denied rumors on Wednesday that Italy had agreed with the Iranian government not to extradite the Iranian to the USA.