Italian government mobilizes to secure journalist’s release from Iran

Italy’s defense minister Guido Crosetto on Friday said the entire government—led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani—has been working tirelessly since the onset of Cecilia Sala’s arrest in Iran to secure the journalist’s release.

“Every person who could and can be useful to achieve this goal has got to work,” Crosetto wrote on X, describing the arrest as “unacceptable.” He emphasized that negotiations with Iran “cannot be resolved by involving Western public opinion” or “the strength of popular indignation,” but only “by high-level political and diplomatic action.”

Crosetto underscored that Italy is pursuing every avenue to free Sala and has mobilized a coordinated effort across government agencies. He added that a careful diplomatic approach remains the most effective means of securing her safe return.

At the same time, member of the European Parliament (MEP) Hannah Neumann took to social media, denouncing the journalist’s detention as “another assault on media freedom, on women, on international law.”

“For all those still saying: ‘We need to judge them by their actions’ – these are their actions,” Neumann said, urging immediate action.

The Iranian government has not yet commented on the circumstances of Sala’s detention. However, observers such as rights advocate and Iranian journalist Shahed Alavi suggest her arrest may be in Iran’s response to the detention of Iranian national Mohammad Abedini who was arrested at Milan airport in connection with a drone strike in Jordan earlier this year that killed US troops.