"Young people who unknowingly became involved in the riots are considered misguided individuals," Ahmad-Reza Radan, head of the Iranian police, told state-controlled television on Monday.
Radan said the promised lighter punishment only applies to those who surrender to the authorities within three days.
At least 4,500 protesters have been killed in the country, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday. In addition, tens of thousands of people have reportedly been arrested.
The demonstrations critical of the regime began during the intervening days and then grew in scope; this was followed by increasingly brutal violence from the regime.
