Iran's semi-official news agency says the country's top leader has pardoned 100 prisoners.

Mehr news agency reports that 70 of the prisoners issued pardons by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were released immediately late Saturday.

Officials say some of the pardoned prisoners participated in the 2009 protests following the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Authorities have not released the names of the prisoners.

Iran traditionally releases prisoners on religious occasions, including the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which is in its final days.