Journalist Maziar Bahari, a Canadian citizen, was detained without charge for nearly four months after Iranian authorities clamped down on journalists following a disputed presidential election. (Newsweek/Associated Press)

Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari is at his mother's home in Tehran after being released from prison, but it is unclear whether he will be allowed to leave Iran.

Bahari had been held in Tehran's Evin prison since June 21, when he was arrested on accusations of spying. The Newsweek reporter was freed after posting bail of about $300,000 US on Saturday.

Family members hope Bahari will be allowed to leave the country and go to London, where his pregnant and ailing wife is scheduled to give birth in just over a week.

British citizen Paola Gourley, Bahari's wife, is scheduled to undergo a caesarean section at London's University College Hospital on Oct 26.

His 26-year-old nephew, Agah Bahari, who lives in Vancouver, said his family is cautiously optimistic that his uncle will be able to return home soon.

Payam Akhavan, a professor of international law at McGill University and co-founder of the U.S.-based Iran Human Rights Documentation Centre, said he thinks Iran decided to grant Bahari bail "to gain international legitimacy" rather than because of Bahari's personal circumstances.

Canadian and U.S. officials had been calling on Iran to release Bahari on humanitarian grounds.

Canada welcomes news of release

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said on Saturday that the government welcomed Bahari's release after months of lobbying on his behalf.

"The government of Canada shares in the joy of Mr. Bahari's family, friends, colleagues and countrymen, and hopes that he will soon be able to join his wife for the birth of their first child," said Cannon in a statement.

Bahari was one of dozens of journalists detained in a widespread crackdown on the media after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's contested re-election on June 12.

He was put on trial with reformist figures accused of supporting unrest in what opposition leaders condemned as a "ridiculous show." Bahari took the stand and said Western media had attempted to guide events in Iran following the election and that he sought mercy from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

His family and colleagues said the comments likely came under duress. Like other defendants, he had no access to a lawyer and no specific charges were announced against him.

With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press