A FAMILY in Maldon have pleaded with the Iranian government after their daughter and her Australian boyfriend were imprisoned.

Jolie King and Mark Firkin, who live in Perth, Western Australia, have been held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison for some ten weeks, with an Iranian television station reporting they were arrested for flying a drone without a licence.

On Friday, it was revealed that Miss King, who with Mr Firkin run the travel YouTube channel, The Way Overland, was allowed to contact her family.

Her father Mike, who lives in Maldon, said that he just wanted to be 'reunited with his daughter'.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade released a statement from the couple's families, which said: "Our families hope to see Mark and Jolie safely home as soon as possible.

"We have no further comment to make at this stage and ask that the media respects our privacy at this difficult time."

The couple were arrested while they undertook a three-year long journey, driving from Australia to London.

They posted their videos on YouTube in order to help fund the trip, which included aerial shots filmed using their drone.

Editor in Chief of Iranian television station, Manoto News, Pouria Zeraati tweeted the latest information surrounding Miss King and Mr Firkin.

He said: "Iran’s judiciary spokesperson, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, confirmed Jolie King and Mark Firkin were arrested in Iran because of ‘taking picture from a military base and No-Photography areas’ with heli-shot.

"He added indictment has been issued; means they’re waiting for trial.

"He added all photos and videos are in the memory card of their camera."

Miss King and her Australian partner Mr Firkin's imprisonment has come shortly after the arrest of British-Australian academic, Kylie Moore-Gilbert, which is not connected.

The Cambridge University educated academic has most recently been working as a lecturer in Islamic Studies at Melbourne University.

She has been inside the Tehran prison for around a year already, having reportedly been given a 10-year sentence.

The Australian Government said it is lobbying with Tehran to ensure all three are appropriately cared for.