Italian journalist Celia Sala, detained in Iran for three weeks, has been released and is returning to Italy. Officials announced her release on Wednesday, crediting “intensive work on diplomatic and intelligence channels.”
Celia Sala heads Home
Premier Giorgia Meloni’s office confirmed that Sala had departed Tehran on a plane headed for Italy.
“Premier Meloni informed Sala’s parents of the good news,” her office stated. Iranian media acknowledged Sala’s release, referencing foreign reports, but Iranian authorities offered no immediate comment.
Sala, a 29-year-old reporter for the Italian daily Il Foglio, was arrested in Tehran on December 19, just three days after arriving on a journalist visa. The official IRNA news agency reported she was accused of violating the laws of the Islamic Republic.
Her detention sparked widespread concern in Italy, where her situation dominated news headlines. Lawmakers and citizens celebrated her release, hailing the success of diplomatic negotiations.
High-Stakes Diplomacy
The breakthrough followed Meloni’s unexpected visit to Florida, where she met U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
