Journalist Cecilia Sala freed from Iran prison, Italian PM's office says

Sala was arrested on December 19 for 'violating the law of the Islamic Republic of Iran'

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was arrested by police in Tehran, Iran, on December 19. Reuters

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has been freed from detention in Iran and is flying home, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office has said.

Ms Sala, 29, travelled to Iran on December 13 on a journalist's visa. She was arrested six days later for "violating the law of the Islamic Republic of Iran", said the country's culture ministry, which oversees and accredits foreign journalists. She had been due to return home the following day.

She was detained three days after Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini was arrested at Milan's Malpensa Airport on a US warrant for allegedly supplying drone parts that Washington says were used in an attack last year that killed three US service members in Jordan. On Monday, Iran denied any link between Ms Sala's arrest and that of Mr Abedini.

"The plane taking journalist Cecilia Sala home took off from Tehran a few minutes ago" following "intense work through diplomatic and intelligence channels", Ms Meloni's office said in a statement.

"Our compatriot has been released by the Iranian authorities and is on her way back to Italy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expresses her gratitude to all those who helped make Cecilia's return possible, allowing her to re-embrace her family and colleagues," her office said.

Italy and Iran summoned each other's ambassadors last week after Rome warned that efforts to secure her release were complicated.

In recent years, Iran's security forces have arrested dozens of foreigners and dual nationals, mostly on charges related to espionage and security. Rights groups have accused Iran of trying to extract concessions from other countries through such arrests. Iran denies this.