ROME—Iran released Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, whose arrest in Tehran last month had sparked fears of a lengthy hostage crisis.Sala was on a flight home to Italy, the office of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement Wednesday.

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.

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who had been arrested and imprisoned in Iran, has been freed and is on a plane taking her back home, the office of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement on Wednesday.

Through a note, the Italian Government announces the release of Cecilia Sala, detained in an Iranian prison since last December 19th. The journalist is already on her way to Italy.

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala is currently held in Evin Prison, Tehran, where the conditions of her detention are reported to be awful. She was arrested a couple of weeks ago on vague

Italy says plane with journalist Cecilia Sala, detained in Iran since Dec 19, has left Tehran and is bringing her home.

The case of Cecilia Sala, who is detained in Iran, is a test for Italy’s government as it gets caught up in Tehran’s shadow war with the U.S.

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was arrested on Dec. 19, just six days after arriving in Tehran where she had conducted a series of interviews for her podcast series.

Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist who was locked up in Iran last month, has been freed and is on a plane that departed from Tehran on Wednesday. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni personally informed the journalist’s parents during a phone call that took place a few minutes ago, according to a statement by her office.