Dubai: Iran has detained a University of Melbourne academic on charges of trying to "infiltrate" Iranian institutions, according to official state media.

Melbourne University academic Meimenat Hosseini-Chavoshi.

Meimanat Hosseini-Chavoshi, a dual Australian-Iranian citizen, was detained as she was leaving Iran, the state news agency IRNA confirmed on Sunday.

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

Population control has become a sensitive issue in Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued an edict in 2014 calling for a population increase after decades of state-promoted birth control.