Iason Athanasiadis held in Iran

The Greek-born photo-journalist Iason Athanasiadis, whose defining images of young Iranians seeking reform were first published by The First Post two years ago, has been arrested in Tehran where he has been covering the post-election protests. His whereabouts are unknown.

Officials confirmed on Tuesday that he was among a number of foreign journalists arrested in recent days. He was on assignment for the Washington Times.

The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency quoted the Culture Ministry official, Mohsen Moghadaszadeh, as saying, "Jason Fowden, the Washington Times reporter, was arrested when he was leaving the country from Imam Khomeini Airport at the end of last week." (Iason has a British father and Greek mother and his full name is Athanasiadis-Fowden.)

Athanasiadis is based in Istanbul. He is fluent in Arabic and Farsi and has been a regular visitor to Tehran over the past decade.

In early 2007, at the time of the kidnapping by Iranian Revolutionary Guards of 15 Royal Navy personnel from HMS Cornwall, Athanasiadis wrote an article for The First Post explaining Iran's hostility to the British.

"Britain's imperialist past and expert meddling in Iran's internal affairs - from the 19th century, the era of the Great Game, to the 1950s when M16 led the unseating of Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadeq because he had upset London by nationalising the British-dominated oil industry - has left most ordinary Iranians nursing a distrust that endures well beyond the sunset of empire.

"In the hardline lingo of the Islamic Republic, England is the 'old fox of imperialism' and Washington merely its brawny, slightly ignorant servant."

In July the same year, Athanasiadis wrote an essay accompanying his 'Children of the Revolution' photographs in which he introduced the generation seeking change, many of whom have been out on the streets in the wake of the disputed June 12 election.

"Khomeini wanted children who would feed the military machine in what looked like being an endless war with Iraq," wrote Athanasiadis. "Instead, he unwittingly created a generation that is now pushing the boundaries of acceptable behaviour, and demanding change.

"While the western press focuses on Tehran's decision to execute sex offenders or stone an adulterer, on the capital's streets this generation follows a different agenda."

John Solomon, executive editor of the Washington Times, said today: "We have been trying diligently to ascertain Iason's whereabouts. We understand that the Greek Foreign Ministry and the Greek ambassador in Tehran are diligently working to secure his swift release. We hope the situation will be resolved very soon." ·