WASHINGTON - The US welcomed the release of a female journalist, who holds an American citizenship, by the Iranian authorities, the State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters on Wednesday.

"We can confirm that she was permitted to depart Iran today, and I believe, as you said, she's in Qatar," he said, adding that the US welcomed the Iranian decision to allow her to depart Iran.

The female journalist, identified as Dorothy Parvaz, is working for the al-Jazeera satellite channel. Reports said she holds American, Canadian and Iranian citizenship.  

She was detained by Syrian authorities after she went to Damascus last week. Afterwards, she was expelled to Iran for traveling on an expired Iranian passport.

Toner also urged the Iranian government to release two other American hikers who have been in Iranian custody for almost two years.

Three Americans, Josh Fattal, Sarah Shourd and Shane Bauer, were arrested in Iran on July 31, 2009 for illegally entering the country's western border and were later charged with espionage. The US government considered the charges unfounded.

The only female US hiker, Sarah Shourd, was released by Tehran's prosecutor in September on bail of US$500,000 due to her health situation.