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

Iran's state media say an Italian journalist has been arrested on charges of violating the Islamic Republic's laws.

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

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.

An Italian journalist has been under arrest in Iran for more than a week, Italy's foreign ministry has said. Cecilia Sala works for Il Foglio newspaper and for podcast company Chora Media. The foreign ministry said it was following Ms Sala's case with "utmost attention" since she was detained by Tehran police on 19 December.

Italy is working “tirelessly” to bring home a journalist who has been under arrest in Iran for more than a week, the country said on Friday.

Efforts to release Italian journalist Cecilia Sala from prison in Iran are "complicated," Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Saturday. Sala was detained on December 19 by police in Tehran and is being held in the city's notorious Evin prison, according to her employer.

Italy has demanded that Iran release a journalist who has been in solitary confinement in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison for more than a week. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday that she wanted to bring reporter Cecilia Sala "home as quickly as possible.