Italian journalist detained by police while reporting in Iran

Cecilia Sala was detained on December 19 as she was reporting in Tehran, Italy’s foreign ministry said (Chora Media via AP)

An Italian journalist who was reporting in Tehran has been detained by the Iranian police, Italy’s foreign ministry said on Friday.

Cecilia Sala was reporting in the Iranian capital when she was detained on December 19, the ministry said, adding that it was working with Iranian authorities “to clarify the legal situation of Sala and to verify the conditions of her detention”.