The incident occurred at 14:11 on Sunday outside the public relations headquarters of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the centre said.
The man, who was not identified by name, was immediately rushed to a burns unit of a local Tehran hospital by ambulance.
He has suffered 80 percent burns and is in critical condition.
Suicide among youths in Iran has reached an alarming rate in recent years. Many young people with no hope of a prosperous future are increasingly committing suicide, in some cases immolating themselves. Experts say that suicide is more common among young women and girls in Iran.
