Cecilia Sala Released from Iranian Prison

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has been released from Iran’s Evin prison after being detained for over three weeks, with her return to Rome confirmed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Sala was arrested on December 19 while on a journalistic visa, shortly after Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini was detained in Italy on a US warrant for alleged involvement in a drone attack that killed three American soldiers. While Iranian authorities have denied any connection between the two cases, speculation arose that Sala's detention was a bargaining tactic by Tehran. Meloni credited the release to 'intensive work on diplomatic and intelligence channels,' marking it as a significant diplomatic victory for her government. Upon her arrival, Sala was greeted at the airport by Meloni and her family, with widespread media attention and political support noted in Italy. Abedini remains in custody in Italy, awaiting a court decision regarding his extradition status.