Tehran - The Iranian judiciary said Wednesday that the Tehran office of Nobel Prize winner Shirin Ebadi could be re-opened as soon as proper permits were issued.

The Tehran prosecutor's office on Sunday ordered the closure of Ebadi's office in northern Tehran which was used by the Defenders of Human Rights Centre without a permit from the interior ministry.

The closure of the human rights lawyer's office raised protests from within the European Union and the United States.

Ebadi said police acted illegally and vowed to continue working from other locations.

The Iranian judiciary said in the statement that the office was sealed off only because it had no legal permit. It said no charges were brought against any of the members of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre.

Ebadi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for promoting human rights and democracy in Iran. She was the first Iranian and the first Muslim woman to receive the honour.

The 61-year-old lawyer and her group of attorneys frequently champion controversial cases related to dissidents, women activists and religious minorities.

Her activities were tolerated by former reformist president Mohammad Khatami. Current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has also taken no action against the office in the last three years. (dpa)