By Crispian Balmer ROME (Reuters) -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.

An Italian journalist detained in Iran for three weeks, whose fate became intertwined with that of an Iranian engineer wanted by the United States, was freed Wednesday and is heading home, Italian officials said.

Italian journalist freed from detention in Iran - Journalist Cecilia Sala, 29, left Tehran on Wednesday after being detained there in December

Tehran denies Sala’s December 19 detainment was linked to an Iranian businessman’s arrest in Italy on a US warrant.

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,

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.

Iran released Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, whose arrest in Tehran last month had sparked fears of a lengthy hostage crisis.

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, detained in Iran since December, has been released and is returning home. This follows efforts via diplomatic and intelligence channels. Sala was initially arrested for allegedly violating Iranian laws,

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.

It's believed that Iran detained Italian journalist Cecilia Sala to use as a bargaining chip for the release of two Iranians held by Italy and the U.S.