A Greek journalist for The Washington Times will soon be freed from captivity in Iran, Iran's ambassador in Athens says.

"We are pleased to confirm that within the next 48 hours the Greek journalist will have been freed," Mehdi Honardoost told the Greek newspaper Kathimerini Friday.

The Iranian Culture Ministry confirmed this week that Iason Athanasiadis had been arrested at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport, but was unclear about what charges he faced.

Kathimerini said Honardoost did not elaborate about Athanasiadis, but talked about an "emotional reaction" to the Iranian presidential elections that had been exploited by foreign powers as part of an "organized conspiracy" against Iran.

Opposition supporters of former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi, the defeated candidate, questioned the outcome of the race, vowing to continue their dissent.