An Italian journalist detained in Iran for three weeks was freed Wednesday and was heading home, after her fate had become intertwined with that of an Iranian engineer arrested in Italy and wanted by the United States.

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, 29, has been released after three weeks in an Iranian prison and is on her way back to Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office announced on Wednesday. Sala was detained in Tehran on December 19 while working under a regular journalistic visa and accused of “violating the laws of the Islamic Republic.”

Cecilia Sala, 29, who was detained last month while on a reporting trip, was on a plane home, the Italian government announced.

Italian reporter Cecilia Sala has been freed after three weeks in an Iranian prison and is flying home, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office said on Wednesday.

Prominent Italian journalist and podcaster Cecilia Sala has been freed from Tehran’s Evin prison for political prisoners where she had been detained since Dec. 19. A spokesman for Italian Premiere Giorgia Meloni’s office on Wed.

Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist detained in Iran, has been released after three weeks. Her detention had been linked to an Iranian engineer wanted by the US. Intensive diplomatic efforts led to Sala's freedom,

An Italian journalist detained in Iran since Dec. 19 and whose fate became intertwined with that of an Iranian engineer wanted by the United States was freed Wednesday and is heading home, Italian officials announced.

An Italian journalist detained in Iran last month has been freed and is on a flight back to Rome, the Italian government says. Cecilia Sala, 29, was arrested on 19 December, three days after an Iranian engineer was detained by Italian authorities in Milan on suspicion of supplying drone technology that led to the deaths of US soldiers.