Iran frees Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was held for three weeks with no explanation

Rome — An Italian journalist detained in Iran for three weeks 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.

A plane carrying Cecilia Sala took off from Tehran after "intensive work on diplomatic and intelligence channels," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office said, adding that Meloni had informed Sala's parents of the news.

Iranian media acknowledged the journalist's release, citing only the foreign reports. Iranian officials offered no immediate comment.