Italian journalist Cecilia Sala home after Iran solitary confinement
Italian journalist Cecilia Sala stepped off a plane in Rome on Wednesday, three weeks after she was arrested in Iran on murky charges and thrown into solitary confinement while reporting on the country.
Sala's arrest was a suspected retaliatory move for the arrest of an Iranian businessman who was wanted by the U.S. and arrested in Italy.
Trump reportedly gave 'green light' for negotiations
Her release came three days after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reportedly discussed her release with President-elect Donald Trump during her surprise visit to his Mar-a-lago resort in Florida, according to Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini.
Trump gave "a sort green light" to negotiate for Sala's release last weekend, Il Post, an Italian news site where Sala's partner works, reported.
But the U.S. denied any involvement in the negotiations – White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby called it, "an Italian decision from soup to nuts,” the Washington Post reported.
Why was Cecilia Sala arrested?
Sala was detained on Dec. 19 in Tehran on charges of "violating the laws of the Islamic Republic."
A journalist working for newspaper Il Foglio and the podcast producer Chora Media, Sala had been in the country for just a week on a journalist visa when she was arrested. She was scheduled to return to Italy the next day.
She was thrown into solitary confinement in Evin prison, notorious for reports of cruelty and constant threats to prisoners.
Cecilia Sala arrest linked to Iranian businessman's arrest
Sala was believed to be held as a bargaining chip by Tehran after Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini was detained in Milan last month on a U.S. arrest warrant.
The U.S. suspects Abedini was involved in a drone attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan nearly a year ago that killed three soldiers and wounded dozens. The U.S. has accused Iran of involvement in the attack, which was claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iranian-backed group.
Iran has denied any role in the attack and that it held Sala to bargain for Abedini's release. His arrest amounts to hostage-taking, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Sunday.
Abedini is still under arrest, but the U.S. has not sent a formal request to Italy to extradite him to the U.S., according to Italy's justice minister.
Tears as Cecilia Sala released
On Wednesday, Sala boarded a plane back to Italy. Prime Minister Meloni greeted her on the tarmac in Rome with Italy's foreign minister.
"I have only cried three times in my life," said Sala's father, Renato Sala, said when he heard she was headed home. "During this period, I had the impression that a game of chess was being played, but there were more than just two players."
Contributing: Reuters