Iran frees wife of detained Washington Post correspondent

WASHINGTON - Tehran has released an Iranian journalist who had been detained since July with her husband, the Tehran bureau chief for the Washington Post, the newspaper reported on Monday.

Yeganeh Salehi was freed on bail in the middle of last week, the Post quoted her brother-in-law as saying.

She was able to visit her husband, Jason Rezaian who holds dual US and Iranian citizenship, over the weekend and told his brother that they were both "physically healthy" despite spending more than two months behind bars.

Rezaian's high blood pressure and daily medication needs have raised concerns about his health.

Salehi, who has refused along with her family to discuss her detention, has lost her press accreditation in Iran since her detention.

"We are thankful Yeganeh has been released on bail," her family said in a statement. "We remain confident that Jason has committed no crime. We pray that the Iranian government will conclude that Jason should be released as well."

It remains unclear why Rezaian, 38, and Salehi were arrested on July 22 or what charges they are facing.

Another dual Iranian-American national woman who works as a photojournalist was arrested with her husband at the same time, but they were both later released.

Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told NPR that Rezaian was being questioned "for what he has done as an Iranian citizen."

Iran does not recognise dual citizenship and has thus rejected State Department requests about Rezaian and those arrested with him, according to the Post.

The two countries lack diplomatic ties and have been at loggerheads over Iran's disputed nuclear programme.

"It is long past time for the Iranian authorities to release Jason and to permit him and Yegi to leave the country," said Post foreign editor Douglas Jehl.