"We hope that there will be no attack against Iran, because Iran doesn't have the atomic bomb and the Iranian people are peaceful. After so many years of war, they are tired of conflict."

Ebadi, the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel prize, made the comments during an interview with Italy's independent television channel La 7.

She paid tribute to those taking part in an annual peace march to the town of Assisi in Umbria on Sunday.

"People who believe in religion are against all forms of violence and terrorism. You have heard it in the message of the pope: where there's God, there's love," she said.

WAR.WIRE