Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has arrived back in the country’s capital after being freed from an Iranian prison where she had spent weeks in detention.

The Italian journalist returned to Rome on Wednesday after weeks of diplomatic wrangling between Italy and Iran.

Cecilia Sala, 29, was arrested on 19 December, three days after an Iranian engineer was detained by Italian authorities in Milan on suspicion of supplying drone technology that led to the deaths of US soldiers. Reports said she had been held in solitary confinement in Tehran's notorious Evin prison.

Italian journalist and podcaster Cecilia Sala has been freed by Iran following 'Intensive' diplomatic effort by the country's prime minister

Cecilia Sala, the Italian journalist and podcaster, has been freed from detention in an Iranian prison, Italy's government has confirmed.

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was on a plane home Wednesday after being freed from an Iranian prison, the result of tireless diplomatic lobbying behind the scenes, the Italian government said.

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was detained in Iran nearly three weeks ago, was released by Iranian authorities on Wednesday and has returned to Italy. The 29-year-old was flown back to Rome on an Italian Air Force plane.

A plane carrying the 29-year-old landed at Rome’s Ciampino airport on Wednesday. Her overjoyed parents and partner were on hand to welcome her back, as were the prime minister, the foreign minister, and the mayor of Rome.