Dubai: The lawyer for an Australian-based academic detained on charges of trying to "infiltrate" Iranian institutions said on Sunday the woman had been freed, Iran's state news agency reported.

Melbourne University academic Meimenat Hosseini-Chavoshi.

Meimanat Hosseini-Chavoshi, a population expert, is affiliated with the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne.

A dual Australian-Iranian citizen, she was detained as she was leaving Iran in December. Iran does not recognise dual nationality and does not routinely announce arrests or charges of dual nationals.

"I checked today and I was told that Mrs Chavoshi has been released a few days ago," said Mahmoud Behzadi, a lawyer of Hosseini-Chavoshi was reported as saying on Sunday.