Reza Zarei stepped down from his post following the raid, reportedly ordered by Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, chief of the judicial authorities, Ynetnews reported Wednesday.

Zarei has been in charge of enforcing the Islamic dress code on Iranian women to help with "moralizing of the city," the Israeli news agency reported. During the past six months, hundreds of young people were arrested for not honoring the Islamic code of behavior.

Rumors of the brothel incident had been rampant in Iran for the two weeks. Last week Zarei was replaced as Tehran's police chief after four years.

The arrest wasn't reported by any of Iran's official news agencies, Ynetnews reported. Farda News, associated with Tehran's mayor who is also a former police chief, broke the story.