Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Thursday summoned the Iranian ambassador over the detention of an Italian journalist in Tehran two weeks ago, demanding her release. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called a meeting Thursday with Tajani,

Italy has summoned Iran’s ambassador to demand the immediate release of an Italian journalist detained in Tehran

Iran confirmed the arrest of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, state news agency IRNA said citing the Iranian Ministry of Culture.

Cecilia Sala could be used as "political leverage" after an Iranian citizen was detained by Italy, a US state department spokesman has said.

The case of an Italian journalist being held in Iran is "complicated", but Rome hopes to bring 29-year-old Cecilia Sala home quickly, Italy's foreign minister said on Saturday.

Italian media said Cecilia Sala’s detention was believed to be aimed at securing the release of an Iranian-Swiss expert in drones who was detained in Italy.

The Italian government has summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest the detention of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala in Tehran, calling for her immediate release, the Foreign Ministry in Rome said on Thursday.

Iran confirmed the arrest of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala for "violating the laws of the Islamic Republic", Iran's official IRNA news agency reported on Monday. Sala, 29, who works for the newspaper Il Foglio and the podcast company Chora Media,