Iran releases Greek journalist

TEHRAN, July 5 (UPI) -- Iran released a Greek journalist detained since the June 12 elections, a foreign ministry spokesman said Sunday.

Jason Athanasiadis, who was working for The Washington Times, was covering post-election events when he was arrested because of "unethical and unprofessional behavior and his role in fueling the recent unrest," a press release from the IRIB news agency reported.

Hassan Qashqavi of the Iranian foreign ministry said on state television Iran's envoys to Greece and to the United Nations worked to get Athanasiadis released.

Qashqavi said Athanasiadis was arrested for entering the country illegally after he had been barred from crossing into the country by authorities. Qashqavi said the journalist was using a British passport at the time of a confrontation with Iranian authorities, and Iranian authorities said he was then detained because he overstayed his visa.