French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the bravery of imprisoned Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi after she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Macron said: "Obviously, I think this is a very powerful decision by the Nobel Committee, which has just honored a woman who has devoted her life to the fight for human rights in her country, and who is now in prison. France is obviously delighted with this choice, and I would also like to express our solidarity with her and her family, who, as you no doubt know, live in France. And I think it's a very strong choice for a freedom fighter who has always faced up to the reality and cruelty of this regime, including enduring several years in prison and terrible sentences."

Also Read: UN urges Iran to free Nobel winner Narges Mohammadi

Earlier, the United Nations urged Iran to free Narges Mohammadi and all human rights defenders jailed by Tehran, after the imprisoned women's rights campaigner won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.

Mohammadi, 51, a journalist and activist, has spent much of the past two decades in and out of prison for her campaign against the mandatory hijab for women and the death penalty.

"The women of Iran have been an inspiration for the world," the UN human rights office told AFP.

"Their courage and determination in the face of reprisals, intimidation, violence and detention has been remarkable. They have been harassed for what they wear and what they do not wear, and face increasingly stringent legal, social and economic measures against them.

"Narges Mohammadi's case is emblematic of the huge risks that women take to advocate for the rights of all Iranians. We call for her release and the release of all human rights defenders jailed in Iran."

Human rights office spokeswoman Elizabeth Throssell added at a press briefing in Geneva that the Nobel award for Mohammadi "really highlights the courage and determination of the women of Iran and how they are an inspiration".

UN spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci said respect for women's rights had always been an "extremely important point" for the United Nations.

"We stand for the rights of women around the world, including in Iran," she told the briefing.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "has been very clear in his defense in the human rights of women and girls in Iran", she added.