Egypt will expel an Iranian diplomat who was briefly detained on suspicion of spying for Tehran, security officials said on Sunday.

The officials said the diplomat, who was released earlier in the day, would be "expelled within 48 hours."

The decision was made public shortly after the man, identified as Qasim al-Hosseini, an employee at Iran's mission in Cairo, was released after his arrest on suspicion of spying for Tehran's intelligence services.