Italian journalist detained in Iran freed after 21 days

Italian journalist Cecilia Salah, 29, who was detained in Iran, was released after 21 days and returned home.

Italian Prime Minister Meloni and Foreign Minister Tayani, along with Salah's family, also went to the airport to greet Salah in person on the afternoon of the 8th local time.

"Sala was released thanks to intense efforts through diplomatic and intelligence channels," the Italian prime minister's office said.

Salah, 29, was working on a journalist visa when she was detained in Tehran on Dec. 19 on charges of "violating the laws of the Islamic Republic."

She was detained three days after Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini was arrested in Milan under a U.S. warrant for supplying drone parts used in a 2024 attack that killed three U.S. soldiers in Jordan.

For this reason, there was an analysis that Iran might have held Salah as a bargaining chip for Abedini's release, but Iran denied this.

Earlier on the 4th, Prime Minister Meloni flew to the U.S. without notice and had a surprise meeting with President-elect Donald Trump.

No details of the meeting were disclosed, but Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini introduced that the issue of Salah's release was discussed.

Local media in Italy believe that Meloni persuaded Trump to waive the U.S. extradition request for Abedini in order to free Salah.