The plane that is bringing home Roman journalist Cecilia Sala, arrested in a hotel in Tehran on December 19 while she was in the country on a journalist visa, took off a few minutes ago from Tehran. This was announced in a note by Palazzo Chigi (Italian Government headquarters) in these minutes. "Thanks to intense work on diplomatic and intelligence channels, our compatriot has been released by the Iranian authorities and is returning to Italy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expresses gratitude to all those who have contributed to making Cecilia's return possible, allowing her to embrace her family and colleagues. The president personally informed the journalist's parents during a phone call that took place a few minutes ago".

The compatriot was held in total isolation in Evin prison, Tehran, officially for having "violated the laws of the Islamic Republic" in force in the country. The arrest occurred three days after that of the Iranian engineer Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, who took place in Italy at the request of the United States as part of an investigation into his accusations of having supplied material to the Pasdaran.

The landing of the airplane will be at the Rome-Ciampino Airport.