Saeed Abedini, the controversial Iranian pastor imprisoned for his faith, has launched another stinging Facebook attack on his opponents.

Abedini hit back at allegations he abused his ex-wife Nagmeh and accused her of spreading lies. He also renewed criticisms of Franklin Graham, the conservative preacher who hosted him after he was released from jail in 2015, though said this was 'most difficult' and acknowledged Graham had helped him. 

The couple, who have two young children, are now divorced and since the separation was finalised last Thursday Saeed has made several Facebook posts defending himself and attacking his critics.

He condemned supporters of Nagmeh, saying they would 'come on my page and accuse me of things they had absolutely no idea were true or not. They did not live with us, therefore they cannot know what went on in our home. Still, they spread these accusations as if it were gospel. I said nothing,' he wrote on Sunday.

'This past week I began trying to answer some of those allegations and also provide some insight into what I have been dealing with privately since my release.'

He accused his former wife of 'telling total strangers lies about me and my family' and of having a 'Jezebel spirit'. 

Saeed rose to prominence when he was placed under house arrest and later jailed in his home country of Iran for participating in Christian churches.

During his imprisonment Naghmeh lobbied for her husband's release and even met with President Obama in her hometown of Boise, Idaho , in 2015.

But in November 2015 Naghmeh halted her public advocacy for her husband pointing to ongoing psychological and sexual abuse in their marriage.

Months later when Saeed was released from prison in January 2016, Naghmeh filed for a legal separation, telling Reuters he had had threatened to end their marriage and that she had taken 'temporary legal action to make sure our children will stay in Idaho' until the situation between them had been resolved.

But Naghmeh was not the only target of Saeed's social media attacks. He also turned on Franklin Graham, the conservative preacher and son of evangelist Billy Graham.

Graham had offered Saeed a place to stay when he returned to the US but did not defend him publicly in his dispute, according to the Iranian's accusations.

'I am personally disappointed and hurt because he knew of many of the issues going on behind the scenes and would not speak out on my behalf,' Saeed wrote on Sunday. 'If he did a lot of this would have been avoided. It hurt that I even had to ask for help. But I did. Privately he supported me, and knew there were lies being spread, but would not make a stand for me publicly.

'Then he said I should forget my calling and take a job in fast food. That hurt most of all,' he added in his rambling Facebook message. 'I never intended to disparage any job or act like anything was beneath me. I don't feel that way. It was just so hurtful to be told that the calling of God on my life was now null and void. God's call is irrevocable.'

Graham's spokesman, Mark DeMoss, told the Christian Post: 'It is unfortunate that Graham's efforts to secure his (Abedini's) release from an Iranian prison and provide transportation for him from Germany to America, his financial assistance to Saeed and Naghmeh ... his provision of marital counseling at no cost to them, and various offers of employment for Saeed have now been met with a bitter Facebook post about him and his ministry, Samaritan's Purse.'

In a final sign-off Saeed suggested he would not comment further on the dispute.

'After today I intend to enjoy Easter with my family, and start to rebuild my life. Those who believe will believe. Those who don't never will. I don't intend on spending any more time worrying about it. I do pray God's blessings on them all, and on all of you as well.'