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

The sudden resignation of the head of Italy’s secret service has caused a stir in Italian politics, just as Giorgia Meloni’s government negotiated the release of an Italian journalist held by Iran.

ROME—Iran released Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, whose arrest in Tehran last month had sparked fears of a lengthy hostage crisis—a win for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that however highlights Western countries’ vulnerability to blackmail by authoritarian regimes.

Triangulation between Italy, the US and Iran helped secure Cecilia Sala's release after the journalist was detained in Tehran three days after the Milan arrest of an Iranian engineer on US terror charges and held for three weeks in the notorious Evin Prison,

Iran released Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, whose arrest in Tehran last month had sparked fears of a lengthy hostage crisis – a win for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that however highlights Western countries’ vulnerability to blackmail by authoritarian regimes.

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala arrived in Rome on Wednesday after she was released from the Iranian prison. Italian PM Giorgia Meloni attributes Sala's return to intense work on diplomatic and intelligence channels.

An Italian journalist detained in Iran three weeks ago has been freed. Premier Giorgia Meloni's office said Wednesday that a plane carrying Cecilia Sala left Tehran after “intensive work on

Meloni received a rapturous welcome to Trump's Palm Beach resort, according to videos circulating on social media.

Giorgia Meloni flew to Florida to meet with Donald Trump on Saturday, as the key European leader sought to further boost ties with the US before the president-elect’s inauguration on Jan 20.

an Italian journalist detained last month in Iran. "Well done Giorgia Meloni for visiting Donald Trump to talk about peace, industrial and commercial cooperation, security, and the freeing of ...