Italian journalist returns home after being freed from Iran

Newspaper journalist and podcaster Cecilia Sala, 29, who had been arrested on unspecified charges last month in Iran, returned home after Tehran released her on Wednesday.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced on X Wednesday: "Diplomacy and teamwork: Cecilia Sala is coming home!"

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also tweeted Wednesday that Sala has been released and is on a plane returning home.

Later in the day, a video was released by Reuters showing Sala getting off the plane and hugging her partner, Daniele Raineri, as well as her parents Elisabetta Vernoni and Renato Sala. She also met the Italian prime minister at the airport.

Earlier, the Italian newspaper La Stampa reported that Sala had been moved out of solitary confinement and was sharing a cell with another person.

Cecilia Sala, a 29-year-old newspaper journalist and podcaster, was arrested in Iran last month on unspecified charges despite holding a valid press pass. She was placed in solitary confinement, sparking international concern.

A source familiar with discussions between Sala's family and the Italian government revealed to Iran International that Tehran has linked her release to Italy's handling of an Iranian detainee. Iran reportedly signaled that Sala's freedom depends on the release of Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, a 38-year-old Iranian arrested by Italian authorities at the request of the United States. Abedini is accused of providing technology used in a drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan.

The source indicated that Iran is prepared to release Sala “on humanitarian grounds” if Italy halts extradition proceedings against Abedini and frees him from Milan's La Opera prison.

"Let's enjoy Cecilia Sala's return to Italy", Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said when pressed by reporters on the possible release of the Iranian national.

"The Iranians themselves have separated the two cases," the Italian foreign minister said. "From day one we were right, we did what we could and had to do to bring an Italian citizen home."

Italian Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio on Wednesday arrived at Palazzo Chigi, the Council of Ministers, to address the issue, according to Italian media, although he himself denied the meeting was held for that reason: "This is something I am not really thinking about at the moment".

Italian media reported that during New Year’s Day calls to her family, Sala described harsh conditions in detention. She said her prescription glasses had been confiscated, her cell was barely larger than her height, and she was forced to sleep on a blanket spread on the floor.