ROME—Iran released Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, whose arrest in Tehran last month had sparked fears of a lengthy hostage crisis—a win for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that however highlights Western countries’ vulnerability to blackmail by authoritarian regimes.

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has been freed from an Iranian prison and is on a plane home, a spokesperson for the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Wednesday.

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.