Approximately 731 banks and 140 government sites were torched in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-pro-government-rally-to-show-who-real-iranians-are-264365">recent unrest in Iran</a>, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said in remarks published by the official IRNA news agency on Wednesday.

More than 50 bases used by security forces were attacked and approximately 70 gas stations were also burned, he said, without specifying where the attacks took place.

According to IRNA, Rahmani Fazli also said up to 200,000 people took part nationwide in the unrest that began on November&nbsp;15 after the announcement of gasoline price hikes.

London-based Amnesty International said on Monday it had recorded at least 143 protesters killed in the protests, the worst <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-begins-reconnecting-internet-after-shutdown-over-protests-263717">anti-government unrest in Iran</a> since authorities put down the "Green Revolution" demonstrations against election fraud in 2009.

Iran has rejected Amnesty's death toll. It says several people, including members of the security forces, were killed and more than 1,000 people arrested. The Center for Human Rights in Iran, a New York-based advocacy group, said the number of arrests was probably closer to 4,000.

The protests quickly turned political, with protesters calling on top leaders to step down. The government has blamed "thugs" linked to exiles and the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia for stirring up street unrest.

The protests came as new US&nbsp;sanctions imposed this year cut off nearly all of Iran's oil exports, and as similar protest movements erupted in Iraq and Lebanon against governments that include heavily armed pro-Iran factions. 
&nbsp;

Approximately 731 banks and 140 government sites were torched in recent unrest in Iran, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said in remarks published by the official IRNA news agency on Wednesday.

Approximately 731 banks and 140 government sites were torched in recent unrest in Iran, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said in remarks published by the official IRNA news agency on Wednesday. More than 50 bases used by security forces were attacked and approximately 70 gas stations were also burned, he said, without specifying where the attacks took place. According to IRNA, Rahmani Fazli also said up to 200,000 people took part nationwide in the unrest that began on November 15 after the announcement of gasoline price hikes. London-based Amnesty International said on Monday it had recorded at least 143 protesters killed in the protests, the worst anti-government unrest in Iran since authorities put down the "Green Revolution" demonstrations against election fraud in 2009. Iran has rejected Amnesty's death toll. It says several people, including members of the security forces, were killed and more than 1,000 people arrested. The Center for Human Rights in Iran, a New York-based advocacy group, said the number of arrests was probably closer to 4,000. The protests quickly turned political, with protesters calling on top leaders to step down. The government has blamed "thugs" linked to exiles and the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia for stirring up street unrest. The protests came as new US sanctions imposed this year cut off nearly all of Iran's oil exports, and as similar protest movements erupted in Iraq and Lebanon against governments that include heavily armed pro-Iran factions.

Hundreds of banks and government sites torched in unrest: Iran's Interior Minister

Iranian authorities ordered the evacuation of six cities along the Karkheh river in southwestern Khuzestan province on Saturday after more rain sparked <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-flood-death-toll-rises-to-70-several-towns-and-villages-evacuated-208288">fears of new flooding</a>, state news agency IRNA said.

Six cities alongside Karkheh river in southwestern Iran "must be evacuated as soon as possible," Khuzestan governor Gholamreza Shariati told IRNA.

The oil-rich province of Khuzestan has an extensive range of dams, which have swelled upstream due to fresh downpours.

The floodwater's intensity has forced authorities to open emergency discharges at Karkheh dam, one of the largest in the area, thus sparking fears of fresh flooding.

The situation appears to be "critical", he said.

"We advise all women and children to be evacuated to shelters and youngsters to remain and help," he added.

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli warned that up to 400,000 people in Khuzestan could be exposed to the floods, IRNA reported.

Iran, a usually arid country, has been hit by unprecedented flooding across most of the country since mid-March with 70 people killed, according to the country's emergency services.

Heavy rain was forecast for Saturday in Khuzestan.

The country's northeast was swamped on March 19 before the west and southwest of the country were inundated on March 25, killing a total of 45 people.

On April 1 the west and southwest were again swamped by floods when heavy rains returned to the area.

The government said the flooding had damaged nearly 12,000 kilometres of roads or 36 per cent of the country's entire network.

The worst hit in the latest deluge was Lorestan Province where in some cities whole neighbourhoods were washed away and many villages are still cut off.&nbsp;

Fourteen deaths have been reported from Lorestan so far.

Iranian authorities ordered the evacuation of six cities along the Karkheh river in southwestern Khuzestan province on Saturday after more rain sparked fears of new flooding, state news agency IRNA said.

Iranian authorities ordered the evacuation of six cities along the Karkheh river in southwestern Khuzestan province on Saturday after more rain sparked fears of new flooding, state news agency IRNA said. Six cities alongside Karkheh river in southwestern Iran "must be evacuated as soon as possible," Khuzestan governor Gholamreza Shariati told IRNA. The oil-rich province of Khuzestan has an extensive range of dams, which have swelled upstream due to fresh downpours. The floodwater's intensity has forced authorities to open emergency discharges at Karkheh dam, one of the largest in the area, thus sparking fears of fresh flooding. The situation appears to be "critical", he said. "We advise all women and children to be evacuated to shelters and youngsters to remain and help," he added. Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli warned that up to 400,000 people in Khuzestan could be exposed to the floods, IRNA reported. Iran, a usually arid country, has been hit by unprecedented flooding across most of the country since mid-March with 70 people killed, according to the country's emergency services. Heavy rain was forecast for Saturday in Khuzestan. The country's northeast was swamped on March 19 before the west and southwest of the country were inundated on March 25, killing a total of 45 people. On April 1 the west and southwest were again swamped by floods when heavy rains returned to the area. The government said the flooding had damaged nearly 12,000 kilometres of roads or 36 per cent of the country's entire network. The worst hit in the latest deluge was Lorestan Province where in some cities whole neighbourhoods were washed away and many villages are still cut off. Fourteen deaths have been reported from Lorestan so far.

Iran orders new evacuations amid fresh flood fears

Tens of thousands of government supporters rallied across Iran on Friday, swearing allegiance to the clerical establishment and accusing arch-enemy the United States of instigating the biggest anti-government protests for nearly a decade, state TV reported.

Tehran`s Friday prayer leader called on authorities to deal &quot;firmly&quot; with those responsible for igniting over a week of demonstrations, in which 22 people have died and more than 1,000 have been arrested, according to Iranian officials.&nbsp;

&quot;But those ordinary Iranians who were deceived by these American-backed rioters should be dealt with based on Islamic clemency,&quot; cleric Ahmad Khatami told worshippers at Tehran university, TV reported.

Khatami also called on the government to &quot;pay more attention to people`s economic problems.&quot;

Protests erupted on December 28 in the holy Shi`ite city of Mashhad after the government announced plans to raise fuel prices and cut monthly cash handouts to lower-income Iranians.

Unrest spread to more than 80 cities and rural towns as thousands of young and working class Iranians voiced anger at graft, unemployment and a deepening gap between rich and poor.&nbsp;

Some 42,000 people took part in the unrest across the country, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli was quoted as saying by state TV.&nbsp;

To try to allay tensions, the government suspended its planned fuel price hikes and cash handout cuts. Ali Rabiei, Iran`s minister of cooperatives, labour and social welfare, said the government had

plans to create over 900,000 jobs by March 2019, the state news agency IRNA reported on Friday.

Iranian officials said the protests were the result of foreign instigation and mocked US&nbsp;President Donald Trump`s support of protesters against what he called a &ldquo;brutal and corrupt&rdquo; establishment.&nbsp;

The authorities have produced no evidence of any US&nbsp;role in the demonstrations, which have lacked a unifying leader.

Guards quelled unrest

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Iran`s statements that external influences fomented the unrest were not groundless and that Washington used any possible method to destabilise governments it disliked.

He added that US&nbsp;calls for an extraordinary meeting of the UN&nbsp;Security Council to discuss the turmoil in Iran interfered with the country`s sovereignty, news agency Interfax said. The Council met on Friday to discuss Iran.

Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Gholamali Khoshroo told the UN&nbsp;Security Council meeting that the United States had abused its power as a permanent member of the Council by calling for a meeting on the turmoil in Iran.

He added that Iran had &ldquo;hard evidence&rdquo; that recent protests in Iran were &ldquo;very clearly directed from abroad&rdquo;.

But US&nbsp;Ambassador to UN&nbsp;Nikki Haley said the United States stood &quot;unapologetically with those in Iran who seek freedom for themselves, prosperity for their families, and dignity for their nation&quot;.

&quot;We will not be quiet. No dishonest attempt to call protesters `puppets of foreign powers` will change that. The Iranian people know the truth. And we know the truth,&quot; she told the UN&nbsp;meeting on Iran.&nbsp;

Iran`s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wrote on his Twitter account that the meeting was &quot;another foreign policy blunder of US&nbsp;President Donald Trump`s administration&quot;.

Residents contacted by Reuters in various cities said the protests had shown sign of abating since Thursday after the establishment intensified a crackdown on the protesters by dispatching Revolutionary Guards forces to several provinces.

Iran`s elite Guards and its affiliated Basij militia suppressed the country`s 2009 unrest over alleged election fraud, in which dozens of pro-reform Iranians were killed.&nbsp;

United front

On Friday rallies, protesters chanted &quot;Death to America&quot; and &quot;Death to Israel&quot;, carrying pictures of Iran`s top authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and waved Iranian flags.

Television footage of rallies in several cities showed people chanting &quot;We support Imam Khamenei ... We will not leave him alone in his fight against enemies&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;Demonstrators demand the punishment of those behind foreign-linked riots which insulted religion and our authorities,&quot; state television reported, referring to unrest in which social media footage showed protesters tearing down pictures of Khamenei.

Hardliner Khatami said the government should take more notice of Iranians` economic problems.&nbsp;

&quot;There are workers who say they have not received their salaries for months ... These problems should be resolved,&quot; Khatami said, according to state TV.

Fearing that further unrest could undermine the Islamic republic altogether, Iran`s faction-ridden political elite has displayed a united front.

But Khamenei and his hardline allies have criticised Iranian President Hassan Rouhani for failing to revive the economy after most sanctions on Iran were lifted in 2016 under a deal reached between Tehran and major powers aimed at curbing the country`s nuclear programme.&nbsp;

Rouhani secured the deal in 2015, raising hopes of better economic times among many Iranians, but discontent has since risen over the lack of broad improvement in living standards.

Ahmed Khatami also called on the government to 'pay more attention to people`s economic problems'

Tens of thousands of government supporters rallied across Iran on Friday, swearing allegiance to the clerical establishment and accusing arch-enemy the United States of instigating the biggest anti-government protests for nearly a decade, state TV reported. Tehran`s Friday prayer leader called on authorities to deal "firmly" with those responsible for igniting over a week of demonstrations, in which 22 people have died and more than 1,000 have been arrested, according to Iranian officials. "But those ordinary Iranians who were deceived by these American-backed rioters should be dealt with based on Islamic clemency," cleric Ahmad Khatami told worshippers at Tehran university, TV reported. Khatami also called on the government to "pay more attention to people`s economic problems." Protests erupted on December 28 in the holy Shi`ite city of Mashhad after the government announced plans to raise fuel prices and cut monthly cash handouts to lower-income Iranians. Unrest spread to more than 80 cities and rural towns as thousands of young and working class Iranians voiced anger at graft, unemployment and a deepening gap between rich and poor. Some 42,000 people took part in the unrest across the country, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli was quoted as saying by state TV. To try to allay tensions, the government suspended its planned fuel price hikes and cash handout cuts. Ali Rabiei, Iran`s minister of cooperatives, labour and social welfare, said the government had plans to create over 900,000 jobs by March 2019, the state news agency IRNA reported on Friday. Iranian officials said the protests were the result of foreign instigation and mocked US President Donald Trump`s support of protesters against what he called a “brutal and corrupt” establishment. The authorities have produced no evidence of any US role in the demonstrations, which have lacked a unifying leader. Guards quelled unrest Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Iran`s statements that external influences fomented the unrest were not groundless and that Washington used any possible method to destabilise governments it disliked. He added that US calls for an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the turmoil in Iran interfered with the country`s sovereignty, news agency Interfax said. The Council met on Friday to discuss Iran. Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Gholamali Khoshroo told the UN Security Council meeting that the United States had abused its power as a permanent member of the Council by calling for a meeting on the turmoil in Iran. He added that Iran had “hard evidence” that recent protests in Iran were “very clearly directed from abroad”. But US Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley said the United States stood "unapologetically with those in Iran who seek freedom for themselves, prosperity for their families, and dignity for their nation". "We will not be quiet. No dishonest attempt to call protesters `puppets of foreign powers` will change that. The Iranian people know the truth. And we know the truth," she told the UN meeting on Iran. Iran`s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wrote on his Twitter account that the meeting was "another foreign policy blunder of US President Donald Trump`s administration". Residents contacted by Reuters in various cities said the protests had shown sign of abating since Thursday after the establishment intensified a crackdown on the protesters by dispatching Revolutionary Guards forces to several provinces. Iran`s elite Guards and its affiliated Basij militia suppressed the country`s 2009 unrest over alleged election fraud, in which dozens of pro-reform Iranians were killed. United front On Friday rallies, protesters chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel", carrying pictures of Iran`s top authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and waved Iranian flags. Television footage of rallies in several cities showed people chanting "We support Imam Khamenei ... We will not leave him alone in his fight against enemies". "Demonstrators demand the punishment of those behind foreign-linked riots which insulted religion and our authorities," state television reported, referring to unrest in which social media footage showed protesters tearing down pictures of Khamenei. Hardliner Khatami said the government should take more notice of Iranians` economic problems. "There are workers who say they have not received their salaries for months ... These problems should be resolved," Khatami said, according to state TV. Fearing that further unrest could undermine the Islamic republic altogether, Iran`s faction-ridden political elite has displayed a united front. But Khamenei and his hardline allies have criticised Iranian President Hassan Rouhani for failing to revive the economy after most sanctions on Iran were lifted in 2016 under a deal reached between Tehran and major powers aimed at curbing the country`s nuclear programme. Rouhani secured the deal in 2015, raising hopes of better economic times among many Iranians, but discontent has since risen over the lack of broad improvement in living standards.

Iran stages pro-government rallies, cleric urges punishment for protest leaders