Tehran: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Friday approved a request from the judiciary chief to pardon, reduce, or commute the sentences of more than 2,000 prisoners.

According to Anadolu Agency, the pardon came ahead of Eid al-Ghadir, one of the most significant religious holidays observed by Shia Muslims, as noted in a statement published on the supreme leader's official website. Earlier, judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei sought clemency for the prisoners.

Inmates convicted of security-related offenses, espionage, actions against Iran's internal or external security, and crimes threatening public security are not eligible for the pardon, as reported by the semi-official ISNA.