According to reports, Iran’s morality police, who used to monitor and arrest women who defy the Islamic dress code, have disappeared from the streets of Tehran in recent days. This comes amid protests after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died 3 days after morality police arrested her.

Reports: Iran’s morality police disappear from streets after dozens killed in protests

Anti-hijab protests have spread across Iran like wildfire. The support for them can be seen outside the country as well. Famous Turkish singer Melek Mosso cut her hair on stage in a show of solidarity with the anti-hijab protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old was arrested by the morality police of Iran over not wearing her hijab properly. Her family and several reports claim that she was beaten up in police custody.

People cheered her on as she cut her hair during a performance.

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Turkish singer <a href="https://twitter.com/MelekMosso?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MelekMosso</a> cuts off her hair on stage in solidarity with the Iranian women. Thank you Melek!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MahsaAmini?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MahsaAmini</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D9%85%D9%87%D8%B3%D8%A7_%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#مهسا_امینی</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IranProtests2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IranProtests2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZjISxjGkAL">pic.twitter.com/ZjISxjGkAL</a>
— Omid Memarian (@Omid_M) <a href="https://twitter.com/Omid_M/status/1574563695606214656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Mosso has been a vocal advocate of women rights. In 2020, the musician was taken off stage for criticising the release of a rapist police officer in Turkey.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anti-hijab-protests-another-iranian-paramilitary-member-killed-young-woman-shot-dead-519681">Another Iranian paramilitary member killed; young woman 'shot dead'</a>

In another concert, Melek Mosso had stated, "If you want to be open, open up, if you want to talk, speak up. You don't need anyone to tell you how to act, what to do, how to dress, girls. You have your own wings. You don't need to be under anyone's wing. Fly."

Meanwhile, the son of the late shah hailed Iran's mass protests as a landmark revolution by women and urged the world to add to the pressure on the clerical leadership. Reza Pahlavi, whose father was toppled in the Islamic Revolution of 1979, called for greater preparation for a future Iranian system that is secular and democratic.

Iran protests, that have entered their eleventh day, have led to the death of at least 75 people.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Anti-hijab protests have spread across Iran like wildfire. The support for them can be seen outside the country as well. Famous Turkish singer Melek Mosso cut her hair on stage in a show of solidarity with the anti-hijab protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini.

Anti-hijab protests have spread across Iran like wildfire. The support for them can be seen outside the country as well. Famous Turkish singer Melek Mosso cut her hair on stage in a show of solidarity with the anti-hijab protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old was arrested by the morality police of Iran over not wearing her hijab properly. Her family and several reports claim that she was beaten up in police custody. People cheered her on as she cut her hair during a performance. Turkish singer @MelekMosso cuts off her hair on stage in solidarity with the Iranian women. Thank you Melek!#MahsaAmini #مهسا_امینی #IranProtests2022 pic.twitter.com/ZjISxjGkAL — Omid Memarian (@Omid_M) September 27, 2022 × Mosso has been a vocal advocate of women rights. In 2020, the musician was taken off stage for criticising the release of a rapist police officer in Turkey. Also Read | Another Iranian paramilitary member killed; young woman 'shot dead' In another concert, Melek Mosso had stated, "If you want to be open, open up, if you want to talk, speak up. You don't need anyone to tell you how to act, what to do, how to dress, girls. You have your own wings. You don't need to be under anyone's wing. Fly." Meanwhile, the son of the late shah hailed Iran's mass protests as a landmark revolution by women and urged the world to add to the pressure on the clerical leadership. Reza Pahlavi, whose father was toppled in the Islamic Revolution of 1979, called for greater preparation for a future Iranian system that is secular and democratic. Iran protests, that have entered their eleventh day, have led to the death of at least 75 people. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Turkish singer Melek Mosso cuts her hair on stage in show of support for Iran protests

Public outrage and massive anti-hijab protests are continuing in Iran and abroad after death of a woman who was arrested by morality police for allegedly wearing a headscarf in an "improper" way.

Public outrage and massive anti-hijab protests are continuing in Iran and abroad after death of a woman who was arrested by morality police for allegedly wearing a headscarf in an "improper" way. The 22-year-old Mahsa Amini is thought to have died in custody earlier this month. State media reported on Sunday that a fifth member of an Iranian volunteer paramilitary group Basij died after clashing with the protesters, and termed them "rioters and thugs". State news agency IRNA said the person died from injuries sustained on Thursday in Urmia city in northwest Iran. Previously, some other members of Basij have been killed in Qazvin, Tabriz, Mashhad and Qouchan. Basij is a paramilitary organisation linked to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). As per official toll, at least 41 people have died since the unrest began, including members of the Islamic republic's security forces. But some source-based reports say the toll is likely much higher. ALSO READ | Iranians continue to protest for the 10th consecutive night, violating judiciary's warning 'Female protester shot dead' According to multiple reports on Sunday, a 23-year-old Iranian woman Hadis Najafi died in the protest. Her videos went viral on social media as she was apparently preparing to join anti-governmental protests. The reports mentioned that she was shot dead by Iranian security forces. Masih Alinejad, a journalist and women's rights advocate, announced her death on September 25. Alinejad wrote in a tweet that Najafi was shot six times by authorities after tying her unscarved hair back. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. This 20 Yr old girl who was getting ready to join the protest against the murdering of #MahsaAmini got killed by 6 bullets.#HadisNajafi, 20، was shot in the chest, face and neck by Islamic Republic’s security forces. Be our voice.#مهسا_امینیpic.twitter.com/NnJX6kufNW — Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) September 25, 2022 × Woman cuts hair off at brother's funeral In another powerful footage, a woman was seen chopping off her hair at the funeral of her brother who reportedly died during the anti-hijab protests. In the viral videos on social media platforms, the woman was seen cutting her hair in front of her brother's body as she cries inconsolably. She is also seen putting bits of the hair on the coffin. Watch the video here: Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify pictures or videos sourced from social media Javad Heydari's sister, who is one of the victims of protests against the murder of #Mahsa_Amini, cuts her hair at her brother's funeral.#IranRevolution #مهسا_امینیpic.twitter.com/6PJ21FECWg — 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) September 25, 2022 × Amid the nationwide unrest, which has spread to other parts of the world, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi warned that the protesters would be dealt with "decisively". Raisi and Iran's judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei on Sunday "emphasised the need for decisive action without leniency" against the core instigators of the "riots", the judiciary's Mizan Online website mentioned. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Anti-hijab protests: Another Iranian paramilitary member killed; young woman 'shot dead'

As the Iranian government has imposed restrictions on internet access in the backdrop of protests across the country over the death a 22 years old woman in the custody of morality police, the Joe Biden administration on Friday issued guidance to relax sanctions on its internet services in the west Asian country.

As the Iranian government has imposed restrictions on internet access in the backdrop of protests across the country over the death a 22 years old woman in the custody of morality police, the Joe Biden administration on Friday issued guidance to relax sanctions on its internet services in the west Asian country. Reportedly, the US treasury department relaxed the internet rules despite the US still having a plethora of sanctions imposed on Iran. “As courageous Iranians take to the streets to protest the death of Mahsa Amini, the United States is redoubling its support for the free flow of information to the Iranian people,” said deputy treasury secretary Wally Adeyemo “With these changes, we are helping the Iranian people be better equipped to counter the government’s efforts to surveil and censor them,” he further added. As reported by WION, earlier this week, the Iranian regime, anticipating the spread of protests had restricted access to the internet as well as social media sites such as Instagram and WhatsApp, the last two remaining social networks in the country. Read more: Iran restricts access to Instagram amid intensifying protests Internet watchdog NetBlocks reported a "nation-scale loss of connectivity" on network providers in Iran. London-based NetBlocks said that WhatsApp's servers were disrupted on multiple internet providers just hours after Instagram was blocked. Internet access is often curbed in Iran to stop protesters from posting videos on social media. In 2019, the government shut down the internet for about a week to stifle fuel protests which turned political, sparking the bloodiest crackdown in the 40-year history of the Islamic Republic. Last week's death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by morality police in Tehran for "unsuitable attire", has unleashed anger over issues including freedom in the Islamic Republic and an economy reeling from sanctions. WATCH | Why are women in Iran protesting against Hijab? × The anti-government protests are not expected to pose an immediate threat to Iran's clerical rulers, who have security forces which have put down one protest after another in recent years, analysts say. But the protests have clearly made the authorities nervous. Women, who have played a prominent role, have challenged the country's Islamic dress code, waving and burning their veils. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US relaxes internet sanctions to help Iranian protesters connect, share info

Billionaire Elon Musk offered the activation of Starlink satellites following US secretary of state Antony Blinken's announcement of boosting efforts to bolster Iranian protests.

Amid protests that have sprung up around Iran following the death of a 22-year-old woman in the custody of morality police, Musk and Washington came out in favour of the openness.

With protesters torching police stations as well as vehicles&nbsp;and reports of security forces coming under attack, public outrage in Iran over Mahsa Amini's death last week is not showing any signs of abating following days of protests in Tehran and other cities.

Starlink, which provides satellite Internet access coverage to 40 countries, is operated by SpaceX which was founded by Musk.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/death-of-young-iranian-woman-puts-spotlight-on-morality-police-518995">Death of young Iranian woman puts spotlight on morality police</a>

Asking for a sanctions exception to do so, Musk said his company would provide Starlink to Iranians like it had done for the Ukrainian military following Russia's invasion.

Urging her to ease restrictions on internet services to Iran, a bipartisan group of US lawmakers sent a letter this week to treasury secretary Janet Yellen.

Welcoming Musk's offer, a senior treasury official told reporters that the general export licence does not cover hardware.

Calling it a bid "to prevent the world from watching its violent crackdown on peaceful protesters," the US slammed Iran for cutting off internet services and eased export restrictions.

"This is a concrete step to provide meaningful support to Iranians demanding that their basic rights be respected," said Blinken.

After being detained for "improperly" wearing the Islamic headscarf, Amini spent three days in coma and subsequently died.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Billionaire Elon Musk offered the activation of Starlink satellites following US secretary of state Antony Blinken's announcement of boosting efforts to bolster Iranian protests.

Billionaire Elon Musk offered the activation of Starlink satellites following US secretary of state Antony Blinken's announcement of boosting efforts to bolster Iranian protests. Amid protests that have sprung up around Iran following the death of a 22-year-old woman in the custody of morality police, Musk and Washington came out in favour of the openness. With protesters torching police stations as well as vehicles and reports of security forces coming under attack, public outrage in Iran over Mahsa Amini's death last week is not showing any signs of abating following days of protests in Tehran and other cities. Starlink, which provides satellite Internet access coverage to 40 countries, is operated by SpaceX which was founded by Musk. Also see | Death of young Iranian woman puts spotlight on morality police Asking for a sanctions exception to do so, Musk said his company would provide Starlink to Iranians like it had done for the Ukrainian military following Russia's invasion. Urging her to ease restrictions on internet services to Iran, a bipartisan group of US lawmakers sent a letter this week to treasury secretary Janet Yellen. Welcoming Musk's offer, a senior treasury official told reporters that the general export licence does not cover hardware. Calling it a bid "to prevent the world from watching its violent crackdown on peaceful protesters," the US slammed Iran for cutting off internet services and eased export restrictions. "This is a concrete step to provide meaningful support to Iranians demanding that their basic rights be respected," said Blinken. After being detained for "improperly" wearing the Islamic headscarf, Amini spent three days in coma and subsequently died. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Musk offers activation of Starlink satellites after Blinken boosts efforts to bolster Iran protests

Protests raged for a fourth straight day across Iran on Tuesday and authorities said five people had been killed during unrest over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. Her death last week by morality police for "unsuitable attire" unleashed a flood of simmering anger over numerous issues including rights, security and an economy reeling from international sanctions.

Videos of protests are emerging from dozens of towns and cities, ranging from the capital Tehran to conservative strongholds like Mashad. In the city of Kerman Tuesday night, a woman chopped off her hair as crowds, comprising mostly men, cheered her on. It was an act of defiance as there wasn't a single&nbsp;hijab in sight.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/head-of-irans-morality-police-suspended-following-protests-over-death-in-custody-reports-suggest-517917">Head of Iran’s morality police suspended amid protests over death in custody, reports suggest</a>

People can be heard chanting "women, life, freedom", while several others can be seen starting bonfires, and others removing and setting their hijabs on fire.&nbsp;

CNN reported that Tuesday night protests were mostly flash gatherings to avoid a scuffle with Iran's security forces. Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, a Norwegian-registered organization, said that at least five protesters have been shot and killed in the last few days, and over 75 have been injured in other cities.

In an apparent effort to defuse tensions, an aide to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei paid condolences to Amini's family, saying that Khamenei was affected and pained by her death.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kurdish-rights-group-says-five-killed-in-iran-during-protests-over-death-in-custody-517894">Kurdish rights group says five killed in Iran during protests over death in custody</a>

Amini fell into a coma and died while waiting with other women held by the morality police responsible for enforcing strict rules in the Islamic Republic requiring women to cover their hair and wear loose-fitting clothes in public. Her father said she had no health problems and that she suffered bruises to her legs in custody and holds the police responsible for her death.

Meanwhile, four&nbsp;Iranian police officers were injured and one "police assistant" died from injuries on Tuesday in the southern city of Shiraz following violent protests, the official IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Protests raged for a fourth straight day across Iran on Tuesday and authorities said five people had been killed during unrest over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody.

Protests raged for a fourth straight day across Iran on Tuesday and authorities said five people had been killed during unrest over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. Her death last week by morality police for "unsuitable attire" unleashed a flood of simmering anger over numerous issues including rights, security and an economy reeling from international sanctions. Videos of protests are emerging from dozens of towns and cities, ranging from the capital Tehran to conservative strongholds like Mashad. In the city of Kerman Tuesday night, a woman chopped off her hair as crowds, comprising mostly men, cheered her on. It was an act of defiance as there wasn't a single hijab in sight. Also Read | Head of Iran’s morality police suspended amid protests over death in custody, reports suggest People can be heard chanting "women, life, freedom", while several others can be seen starting bonfires, and others removing and setting their hijabs on fire. CNN reported that Tuesday night protests were mostly flash gatherings to avoid a scuffle with Iran's security forces. Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, a Norwegian-registered organization, said that at least five protesters have been shot and killed in the last few days, and over 75 have been injured in other cities. In an apparent effort to defuse tensions, an aide to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei paid condolences to Amini's family, saying that Khamenei was affected and pained by her death. Also Read | Kurdish rights group says five killed in Iran during protests over death in custody Amini fell into a coma and died while waiting with other women held by the morality police responsible for enforcing strict rules in the Islamic Republic requiring women to cover their hair and wear loose-fitting clothes in public. Her father said she had no health problems and that she suffered bruises to her legs in custody and holds the police responsible for her death. Meanwhile, four Iranian police officers were injured and one "police assistant" died from injuries on Tuesday in the southern city of Shiraz following violent protests, the official IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday. (With inputs from agencies)

Protests flare across Iran as women cut their hair, burn hijabs to protest Mahsa Amini's custodial death

The head of Iran’s morality police has reportedly been suspended from his post as protests swept across Iran for a third day over the killing of a 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who was detained by the police after being accused of not wearing the hijab appropriately.

Reports: Head of Iran’s morality police suspended amid protests

Protests erupted in western Iran as a 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died after being detained by the regime’s morality police for allegedly not following the country’s hijab regulations.

Woman’s death after arrest over hijab stirs Iran protests

In Iran, farmers set up tents in a dry river bed in Isfahan to protest a drought. The Iranian Riot Police fired bullets to clear up the area. Palki Sharma tells you how a protest for water turned deadly in Iran.

Iran: Farmers set up tents in dry river bed protesting against water shortage

Hundreds of Iranians marched through Tehran in rare protests over blackouts and power outages. Workers in the lucrative oil industry have also gone on strike. How will this instability affect Iran's upcoming change of guard? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Iran: Drought triggers anti-govt protests

A massive online campaign by its citizens has forced the Iranian regime to quash the death sentence of 3 anti-govt protesters. WION's Palki tells you how Iran's political leadership fears a civil unrest.

Gravitas: Iran protests: Govt forced to backtrack

Human rights group Amnesty International on Wednesday accused the Iranian security forces of killing 23 children, mostly with live ammunition, during a November crackdown on anti-government protests.

Protests broke out across Iran from November 15 after the announcement of a surprise petrol price rise. The authorities responded with a crackdown that Amnesty has already said left 304 people dead, a figure vehemently disputed by Tehran.

Amnesty said in its new report it had evidence that at least 23 children were killed, with 22 of them killed by the security forces "unlawfully firing live ammunition at unarmed protesters and bystanders."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-of-iraqis-rally-against-government-iran-and-us-273470">Also read:&nbsp;'Screw Iran! Screw America!': Thousands of Iraqis rally against government, Tehran and US</a>

The children killed included 22 boys, aged between 12 and 17, and a girl reportedly aged between eight and 12.

"There must be independent and impartial investigations into these killings, and those suspected of ordering and carrying them out must be prosecuted in fair trials," said Philip Luther, Amnesty's research and advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa.

'Quash dissent at any cost'

Twelve of the 23 deaths -- recorded in 13 cities in six provinces across the country --- took place on 16 November, a further eight on 17 November, and three on 18 November, according to Amnesty.

"The fact that the vast majority of the children's deaths took place over just two days is further evidence that Iranian security forces went on a killing spree to quash dissent at any cost," said Luther. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/protests-in-iran-seen-as-a-consipiracy-to-destabilise-current-political-regime-266160">Also read: Protests in Iran seen as a consipiracy to destabilise current political regime</a>

Amnesty International said it had written to Iran's Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli with the names of the 23 children recorded as killed but had received no response.&nbsp;

It said relatives of some of the children killed described being subjected to harassment and intimidation, including surveillance and interrogations by intelligence and security officials.&nbsp;

It said this corresponded with a broad pattern of families of those killed in protests being intimidated by the state to prevent them talking openly about the deaths.&nbsp;

"Families of children killed during the protests are facing a ruthless campaign of harassment to intimidate them from speaking out," said Luther, denouncing a "state cover-up".

Its report was based on evidence from videos and photographs, as well as death and burial certificates, accounts from eyewitnesses and victims' relatives as well as information gathered from human rights activists and journalists. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In one child's case, there were conflicting reports on the cause of death, with one source referring to fatal head injuries sustained by beatings by security forces and another referring to the firing of metal pellets at the victim's face from a close distance, it said.

Human rights group Amnesty International on Wednesday accused the Iranian security forces of killing 23 children, mostly with live ammunition, during a November crackdown on anti-government protests.

Human rights group Amnesty International on Wednesday accused the Iranian security forces of killing 23 children, mostly with live ammunition, during a November crackdown on anti-government protests. Protests broke out across Iran from November 15 after the announcement of a surprise petrol price rise. The authorities responded with a crackdown that Amnesty has already said left 304 people dead, a figure vehemently disputed by Tehran. Amnesty said in its new report it had evidence that at least 23 children were killed, with 22 of them killed by the security forces "unlawfully firing live ammunition at unarmed protesters and bystanders." Also read: 'Screw Iran! Screw America!': Thousands of Iraqis rally against government, Tehran and US The children killed included 22 boys, aged between 12 and 17, and a girl reportedly aged between eight and 12. "There must be independent and impartial investigations into these killings, and those suspected of ordering and carrying them out must be prosecuted in fair trials," said Philip Luther, Amnesty's research and advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa. 'Quash dissent at any cost' Twelve of the 23 deaths -- recorded in 13 cities in six provinces across the country --- took place on 16 November, a further eight on 17 November, and three on 18 November, according to Amnesty. "The fact that the vast majority of the children's deaths took place over just two days is further evidence that Iranian security forces went on a killing spree to quash dissent at any cost," said Luther. Also read: Protests in Iran seen as a consipiracy to destabilise current political regime Amnesty International said it had written to Iran's Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli with the names of the 23 children recorded as killed but had received no response. It said relatives of some of the children killed described being subjected to harassment and intimidation, including surveillance and interrogations by intelligence and security officials. It said this corresponded with a broad pattern of families of those killed in protests being intimidated by the state to prevent them talking openly about the deaths. "Families of children killed during the protests are facing a ruthless campaign of harassment to intimidate them from speaking out," said Luther, denouncing a "state cover-up". Its report was based on evidence from videos and photographs, as well as death and burial certificates, accounts from eyewitnesses and victims' relatives as well as information gathered from human rights activists and journalists. In one child's case, there were conflicting reports on the cause of death, with one source referring to fatal head injuries sustained by beatings by security forces and another referring to the firing of metal pellets at the victim's face from a close distance, it said.

Iran killed two dozen children in November crackdown on anti-government protests: Amnesty

Iran on Sunday hinted de-escalation of tensions with the United States which were triggered nearly two weeks ago when top commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a drone strike by Washington in Iraq.&nbsp;

On Sunday, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said that both countries agreed de-escalation is the "only solution" to the ongoing crisis after he met Iran's President Hassan Rouhani in his visit to Iran.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-sole-female-olympic-medalist-kimia-alizadeh-says-she-left-her-country-for-europe-273826">Iran's sole female Olympic medalist Kimia Alizadeh says she left her country for Europe</a> 
&nbsp;

<img alt="Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Hassan Rouhani" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8b9fc5ef-312a-4883-8d35-60c6f19ae722" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1NN4XQ.jpg" />

(Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (L) and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani | Photo Credit: AFP)

"This visit comes at a critical time in the region," Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said. &nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/do-not-kill-your-protesters-us-president-trump-to-iranian-authorities-273818">'Do not kill your protesters, world is watching', Trump warns Iran</a>

"We agreed... that the only solution to these crises is de-escalation from everyone and dialogue."

Rouhani said: "We've decided to have more consultations and cooperation for the security of the entire region."

<img alt="Iran protests" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8519d58b-2ecb-4685-8a50-3ff30a643aed" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/hqL8YOpo.jpg" />

(A woman shouts slogans as she gathers with people to show their sympathy to the victims of the crash of the Boeing 737-800 plane, flight PS 752, in Tehran,&nbsp;Iran | Photo Credit: Reuters)

Earlier today, Trump tweeted that US NSA suggested that "sanctions &amp; protests have Iran choked off," and will force the country to "negotiate".&nbsp;

"Will be totally up to them but, no nuclear weapons and “don’t kill your protesters,” the tweet added.&nbsp;

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National Security Adviser suggested today that sanctions &amp; protests have Iran “choked off”, will force them to negotiate. Actually, I couldn’t care less if they negotiate. Will be totally up to them but, no nuclear weapons and “don’t kill your protesters.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1216506722153639942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The protests began on Saturday in Iran after Rouhani admitted that "human error" brought down the Boeing 737, which killed 176 people.&nbsp;

Hundreds of students also shouted "death to liars" at a memorial at Tehran's Amir Kabir University on Saturday. Some protests in the Islamic Republic also demanded the resignation of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.&nbsp;

On Sunday, heightened tensions were observed once again after security was beefed up near the iconic Azadi Square south of the centre in Tehran.&nbsp;

Riot police were deployed in Amir Kabir, Sharif and Tehran universities and Enqelab Square in the Iranian capital.&nbsp;

Earlier, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said that "Canada and the world still have many questions, questions that must be answered". Trudeau also said it is necessary for Canada to participate in the investigation of the crashed aircraft in which 57 Canadians were killed.&nbsp;

Ukraine demanded that guilty of those responsible in the crash be brought to justice and asked for the payment of compensation to the victims' family.&nbsp;

Iran on Sunday hinted de-escalation of tensions with the United States which were triggered nearly two weeks ago when top commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a drone strike by Washington in Iraq.

Iran on Sunday hinted de-escalation of tensions with the United States which were triggered nearly two weeks ago when top commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a drone strike by Washington in Iraq. On Sunday, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said that both countries agreed de-escalation is the "only solution" to the ongoing crisis after he met Iran's President Hassan Rouhani in his visit to Iran. Also read: Iran's sole female Olympic medalist Kimia Alizadeh says she left her country for Europe (Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (L) and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani | Photo Credit: AFP) "This visit comes at a critical time in the region," Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said. Also read: 'Do not kill your protesters, world is watching', Trump warns Iran "We agreed... that the only solution to these crises is de-escalation from everyone and dialogue." Rouhani said: "We've decided to have more consultations and cooperation for the security of the entire region." (A woman shouts slogans as she gathers with people to show their sympathy to the victims of the crash of the Boeing 737-800 plane, flight PS 752, in Tehran, Iran | Photo Credit: Reuters) Earlier today, Trump tweeted that US NSA suggested that "sanctions & protests have Iran choked off," and will force the country to "negotiate". "Will be totally up to them but, no nuclear weapons and “don’t kill your protesters,” the tweet added. National Security Adviser suggested today that sanctions & protests have Iran “choked off”, will force them to negotiate. Actually, I couldn’t care less if they negotiate. Will be totally up to them but, no nuclear weapons and “don’t kill your protesters.” — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2020 × The protests began on Saturday in Iran after Rouhani admitted that "human error" brought down the Boeing 737, which killed 176 people. Hundreds of students also shouted "death to liars" at a memorial at Tehran's Amir Kabir University on Saturday. Some protests in the Islamic Republic also demanded the resignation of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. On Sunday, heightened tensions were observed once again after security was beefed up near the iconic Azadi Square south of the centre in Tehran. Riot police were deployed in Amir Kabir, Sharif and Tehran universities and Enqelab Square in the Iranian capital. Earlier, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said that "Canada and the world still have many questions, questions that must be answered". Trudeau also said it is necessary for Canada to participate in the investigation of the crashed aircraft in which 57 Canadians were killed. Ukraine demanded that guilty of those responsible in the crash be brought to justice and asked for the payment of compensation to the victims' family.

Iran hints at de-escalating tensions with US

Iranian protesters and newspapers&nbsp;piled&nbsp;pressure&nbsp;on the country's leadership and riot police stepped up their presence in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-foreign-minister-to-visit-iran-saudi-arabia-to-discuss-developments-in-middle-east-273726">Tehran</a> on Sunday&nbsp;after&nbsp;Iran's military admitted that it had mistakenly shot down a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-airplane-brought-down-due-to-human-error-iran-273506">Ukrainian airliner</a>.

Riot police fired teargas at thousands of&nbsp;Iranians who had taken to the streets late on Saturday in the capital and other cities, many chanting "Death to the dictator", directing their anger at&nbsp;Iran's top authority, Supreme Leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-warns-iran-against-massacre-as-protests-erupt-over-downing-of-ukrainian-airplane-273670">Ali Khamenei</a>.

Reports of the&nbsp;protests&nbsp;were carried by state-affiliated news agencies, while video clips circulated on social media.

Tehran residents told reporters&nbsp;that police had stepped up their presence in the capital on Sunday morning.

Watch:&nbsp;Protesters condemn government over its initial denial of downing Ukrainian plane

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"Apologise and resign,"&nbsp;Iran's moderate Etemad daily wrote in a banner headline on Sunday, saying the "people's demand" was for those responsible for mishandling the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;crisis to quit.

All 176 people aboard the flight, many of them&nbsp;Iranians with dual citizenship, were killed.

Protests&nbsp;erupted&nbsp;after&nbsp;Saturday's&nbsp;admission&nbsp;that the military accidentally shot down the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-demands-punishment-compensation-for-airliner-downed-by-iran-273583">Ukraine International Airlines</a>&nbsp;plane&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;after&nbsp;takeoff on Wednesday when&nbsp;Iranian forces were alert for US&nbsp;reprisals&nbsp;after&nbsp;tit-for-tat&nbsp;strikes.

For days,&nbsp;Iranian officials had vigorously denied it was to blame, even as Canada, which had 57 citizens on the flight, and the United States said their intelligence indicated an&nbsp;Iranian missile was to blame, albeit probably fired in error.

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The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. 
 
My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences. <a href="https://t.co/4dkePxupzm">https://t.co/4dkePxupzm</a>
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) <a href="https://twitter.com/HassanRouhani/status/1215856679423823872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Iran's president said it was a "disastrous mistake" and apologised. But a top Revolutionary Guards commander added to public anger about the delayed&nbsp;admission when he said he had told the authorities a missile hit the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;the day it crashed.

Another moderate daily Jomhuri-ye Eslami, or the Islamic Republic, wrote in an editorial: "Those who delayed publishing the reason behind the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;crash and damaged people's trust in the establishment should be dismissed or should resign."

Criticism of the authorities in&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;is not unusual, but it tends to stay in narrow boundaries.

The press attacks and&nbsp;protests&nbsp;add to challenges facing the establishment, which in November faced the country's bloodiest unrest since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

As Saturday's&nbsp;protests&nbsp;spread across&nbsp;Iran, including major cities such as Shiraz, Isfahan, Hamedan and Orumiyeh, US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-warns-iran-against-massacre-as-protests-erupt-over-downing-of-ukrainian-airplane-273670">Donald Trump</a> said on Twitter: "We are following your&nbsp;protests&nbsp;closely, and are inspired by your courage."

"There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching," he said, posting his tweets in both Farsi and English.

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The government of Iran must allow human rights groups to monitor and report facts from the ground on the ongoing protests by the Iranian people. There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1216120362230067202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Britain said its ambassador in&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;had been briefly detained on Saturday by the authorities in Tehran. A news agency said he was detained outside a university for inciting&nbsp;protests.

Condemning the arrest, British Foreign Secretary <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-denounces-brief-arrest-of-envoy-in-tehran-as-violation-of-law-273690">Dominic Raab</a> said&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;"can continue its march towards pariah status&nbsp;or take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards."

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Foreign Secretary <a href="https://twitter.com/DominicRaab?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DominicRaab</a> calls brief detention of <a href="https://twitter.com/HMATehran?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HMATehran</a> a “flagrant violation of international law.” Full statement: <a href="https://t.co/bcx5dYInUb">https://t.co/bcx5dYInUb</a>
— Foreign Office 🇬🇧 (@foreignoffice) <a href="https://twitter.com/foreignoffice/status/1216114167888912385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Protests&nbsp;inside&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;followed a build-up of tension between&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and the United States, which withdrew from Tehran's nuclear pact with world powers in 2018 and then re-imposed sanctions that have steadily crippled the&nbsp;Iranian economy.

On January&nbsp;3, a US&nbsp;drone&nbsp;strike&nbsp;in Iraq killed prominent&nbsp;Iranian commander <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-general-soleimanis-killing-was-self-defense-us-ambassador-kelly-craft-to-un-273117">Qasem Soleimani</a>, responsible for building up&nbsp;Iran's network of regional proxy armies in Iraq and beyond, and Tehran responded with missile&nbsp;strikes on US&nbsp;targets in Iraq.

No US&nbsp;soldiers were killed, but in the tense hours&nbsp;after&nbsp;that, the Ukrainian <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-airplane-brought-down-due-to-human-error-iran-273506">Boeing 737</a> was cleared to take off from Tehran airport and then brought down by a missile fired in error by an operator who mistook the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;for an attacker.

<img alt="Relatives of the flight crew members of the plane that crashed in Iran, mourn at a memorial at the Boryspil International airport outside Kiev, Ukraine " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="93f67be6-2401-4cdf-a0e8-7eef59ffee84" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%286%29_8.jpg" /> 
[ Relatives of the flight crew members of the plane that crashed in Iran, mourn at a memorial at the Boryspil International airport outside Kiev, Ukraine&nbsp;(Courtesy: Reuters) ]

"Shooting down a civilian aircraft is horrific.&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;must take full responsibility," Canadian Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ottawa-lowers-canadian-death-toll-in-iran-air-crash-to-57-273604">Justin Trudeau</a> said.

Trudeau said&nbsp;Iranian President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/soleimani-was-probably-planning-to-attack-four-us-embassies-donald-trump-273535">Hassan Rouhani</a> had committed to collaborating with Canadian investigators, working to de-escalate tensions in the region and continuing dialogue.

Rallying to the establishment,&nbsp;Iranian lawmakers praised the elite force's commanders for courage in admitting the error, according to Fars, a news agency seen as close to the Guards, a parallel military set up to protect the theocratic system.

Iranian officials sought to portray the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;disaster as a second blow to a mourning nation&nbsp;after&nbsp;Soleimani's death in a US&nbsp;drone&nbsp;strike.

Soleimani's funeral had prompted huge public gatherings, which the authorities described a show of national unity. But the displays of emotion have been swiftly overshadowed and protesters on Saturday tore up pictures of the slain general.

Public fury at&nbsp;Iran's authorities had grown as questions about the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;crash mounted.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-warns-iran-nuclear-deal-may-collapse-273585">Iranians</a> on social media asked why officials were busy fending off criticism from abroad rather than sympathising with grieving families. Others asked why the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;was allowed to take off at a time of high tension.

Iranian protesters and newspapers piled pressure on the country's leadership and riot police stepped up their presence in Tehran on Sunday after Iran's military admitted that it had mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner.

Iranian protesters and newspapers piled pressure on the country's leadership and riot police stepped up their presence in Tehran on Sunday after Iran's military admitted that it had mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner. Riot police fired teargas at thousands of Iranians who had taken to the streets late on Saturday in the capital and other cities, many chanting "Death to the dictator", directing their anger at Iran's top authority, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Reports of the protests were carried by state-affiliated news agencies, while video clips circulated on social media. Tehran residents told reporters that police had stepped up their presence in the capital on Sunday morning. Watch: Protesters condemn government over its initial denial of downing Ukrainian plane × "Apologise and resign," Iran's moderate Etemad daily wrote in a banner headline on Sunday, saying the "people's demand" was for those responsible for mishandling the plane crisis to quit. All 176 people aboard the flight, many of them Iranians with dual citizenship, were killed. Protests erupted after Saturday's admission that the military accidentally shot down the Ukraine International Airlines plane minutes after takeoff on Wednesday when Iranian forces were alert for US reprisals after tit-for-tat strikes. For days, Iranian officials had vigorously denied it was to blame, even as Canada, which had 57 citizens on the flight, and the United States said their intelligence indicated an Iranian missile was to blame, albeit probably fired in error. The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences. https://t.co/4dkePxupzm — Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 11, 2020 × Iran's president said it was a "disastrous mistake" and apologised. But a top Revolutionary Guards commander added to public anger about the delayed admission when he said he had told the authorities a missile hit the plane the day it crashed. Another moderate daily Jomhuri-ye Eslami, or the Islamic Republic, wrote in an editorial: "Those who delayed publishing the reason behind the plane crash and damaged people's trust in the establishment should be dismissed or should resign." Criticism of the authorities in Iran is not unusual, but it tends to stay in narrow boundaries. The press attacks and protests add to challenges facing the establishment, which in November faced the country's bloodiest unrest since the 1979 Islamic revolution. As Saturday's protests spread across Iran, including major cities such as Shiraz, Isfahan, Hamedan and Orumiyeh, US President Donald Trump said on Twitter: "We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage." "There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching," he said, posting his tweets in both Farsi and English. The government of Iran must allow human rights groups to monitor and report facts from the ground on the ongoing protests by the Iranian people. There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2020 × Britain said its ambassador in Iran had been briefly detained on Saturday by the authorities in Tehran. A news agency said he was detained outside a university for inciting protests. Condemning the arrest, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Iran "can continue its march towards pariah status or take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards." Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab calls brief detention of @HMATehran a “flagrant violation of international law.” Full statement: https://t.co/bcx5dYInUb — Foreign Office 🇬🇧 (@foreignoffice) January 11, 2020 × Protests inside Iran followed a build-up of tension between Iran and the United States, which withdrew from Tehran's nuclear pact with world powers in 2018 and then re-imposed sanctions that have steadily crippled the Iranian economy. On January 3, a US drone strike in Iraq killed prominent Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, responsible for building up Iran's network of regional proxy armies in Iraq and beyond, and Tehran responded with missile strikes on US targets in Iraq. No US soldiers were killed, but in the tense hours after that, the Ukrainian Boeing 737 was cleared to take off from Tehran airport and then brought down by a missile fired in error by an operator who mistook the plane for an attacker. [ Relatives of the flight crew members of the plane that crashed in Iran, mourn at a memorial at the Boryspil International airport outside Kiev, Ukraine (Courtesy: Reuters) ] "Shooting down a civilian aircraft is horrific. Iran must take full responsibility," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Trudeau said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had committed to collaborating with Canadian investigators, working to de-escalate tensions in the region and continuing dialogue. Rallying to the establishment, Iranian lawmakers praised the elite force's commanders for courage in admitting the error, according to Fars, a news agency seen as close to the Guards, a parallel military set up to protect the theocratic system. Iranian officials sought to portray the plane disaster as a second blow to a mourning nation after Soleimani's death in a US drone strike. Soleimani's funeral had prompted huge public gatherings, which the authorities described a show of national unity. But the displays of emotion have been swiftly overshadowed and protesters on Saturday tore up pictures of the slain general. Public fury at Iran's authorities had grown as questions about the plane crash mounted. Iranians on social media asked why officials were busy fending off criticism from abroad rather than sympathising with grieving families. Others asked why the plane was allowed to take off at a time of high tension.

Iranians step up protests after Tehran's admission that it shot down Ukrainian airliner

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jaishankar-meets-iranian-president-hassan-rouhani-discusses-progress-in-india-iran-bilateral-ties-269834">Iran</a>'s authorities have restricted mobile&nbsp;internet&nbsp;access in several provinces, an&nbsp;Iranian&nbsp;news agency reported on Wednesday, a day&nbsp;before&nbsp;new&nbsp;protests&nbsp;were expected to kick-off following calls for demonstrations on social media.

Social media posts, along with some relatives of people killed in unrest last month, have called for renewed&nbsp;protests&nbsp;and for ceremonies to commemorate the dead to be held on Thursday.

State media, meanwhile, said intelligence ministry agents had seized a cache of 126 mostly US-made guns smuggled to the central city of Isfahan from abroad.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/protests-in-iran-seen-as-a-consipiracy-to-destabilise-current-political-regime-266160">protests</a>&nbsp;were initially sparked in November by hikes in gasoline prices but demonstrators quickly expanded their demands to cover calls for more political freedom and other issues.

The government, which launched the bloodiest crackdown on demonstrators in the 40-year history of the Islamic Republic, blamed foreign enemies for stoking tensions.

An official denied any order by the authorities to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/3-reportedly-killed-in-ongoing-protests-in-iran-government-blocks-internet-28144">block the&nbsp;internet</a>, which was shut down for about a week in the November unrest. A&nbsp;news agency also cited mobile operators saying their services had not been disrupted.

The semi-official&nbsp;news agency ILNA quoted an informed source at the Communications and Information Technology Ministry as saying mobile&nbsp;internet&nbsp;access to overseas sites was blocked by "security authorities" in Alborz, Kurdestan and Zanjan provinces in central and western&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and Fars in the south.

"According to this source, it is&nbsp;possible&nbsp;that more provinces will be affected by the shutdown of mobile international connectivity," ILNA said.

Internet&nbsp;blockage observatory NetBlocks said on Twitter: "Confirmed: Evidence of mobile&nbsp;internet&nbsp;disruption in parts of #Iran&nbsp;...real-time network data show two distinct drops in connectivity this morning amid&nbsp;reports&nbsp;of regional outages; incident ongoing."

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Confirmed: Evidence of mobile internet disruption in parts of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a> beginning ~6:30 a.m. (03:00 UTC); real-time network data show two distinct drops in connectivity this morning amid reports of regional outages; incident ongoing 📉 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Internet4Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Internet4Iran</a> 
 
📰<a href="https://t.co/BNTPP9wEyt">https://t.co/BNTPP9wEyt</a> <a href="https://t.co/1l1ZkLnQKJ">pic.twitter.com/1l1ZkLnQKJ</a>
— NetBlocks.org (@netblocks) <a href="https://twitter.com/netblocks/status/1209796588324958208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The shutdown appeared to be spreading.

"I just checked myself and asked a friend, and the&nbsp;internet&nbsp;is off on our mobiles," a resident in Ahvaz, the capital of the oil producing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-oil-field-adds-222-billion-barrels-with-current-technology-iran-261333">Khuzestan</a> province, told sources.

But a communications ministry spokesman denied there was an order to shut down the&nbsp;internet. "No such order has been issued by the judiciary or other relevant authorities. The Fake&nbsp;News are at work," Jamal Hadian said in a Twitter post.

Iran's three mobile operators also denied experiencing any&nbsp;internet&nbsp;disruptions, the local sources reported.

In <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tehran-air-pollution-forces-week-long-school-closure-269782">Alborz</a> province, one of the areas affected by the shutdown, authorities this week arrested the parents of a young man who was shot dead during the&nbsp;protests, after pressuring them to call off a commemoration for their son scheduled for Thursday, citing concerns it could create unrest.

The weapons seized in Isfahan included assault rifles, handguns and pellet guns, the state&nbsp;news agency IRNA said. "Most of the weapons carry USA badges and are American-made," it added.

The&nbsp;internet&nbsp;blockage made it difficult for protesters to post videos on social media to generate support and also to obtain reliable&nbsp;reports&nbsp;on the extent of the unrest.

Security forces have been on alert for any events that could spark more unrest after 1,500 people were killed in less than two weeks after&nbsp;protests&nbsp;erupted on November&nbsp;15, according to reports.

That figure is much higher than estimates by international human rights groups and was also dismissed as "fake&nbsp;news" by a spokesman for&nbsp;Iran's top state security body.

The United States imposed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-unveils-development-at-arak-reactor-amid-us-sanctions-pressure-269852">sanctions</a> on&nbsp;Iran's communications minister last month for his role in "widescale&nbsp;internet&nbsp;censorship," a reference to the nationwide shutdown.

Iran&nbsp;has blamed "thugs" linked to exiles and foreign foes - the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-he-and-xi-jinping-will-sign-china-trade-deal-270340">United States</a>, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-launches-air-strikes-on-gaza-after-rocket-attack-270314">Israel</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-will-seek-accountability-on-khashoggi-no-matter-how-high-it-goes-270052">Saudi Arabia</a> - for stirring up unrest through social media.

During the&nbsp;protests, hundreds of banks and public buildings were attacked and damaged.

Iran's authorities have restricted mobile internet access in several provinces, an Iranian news agency reported on Wednesday, a day before new protests were expected to kick-off following calls for demonstrations on social media.

Iran's authorities have restricted mobile internet access in several provinces, an Iranian news agency reported on Wednesday, a day before new protests were expected to kick-off following calls for demonstrations on social media. Social media posts, along with some relatives of people killed in unrest last month, have called for renewed protests and for ceremonies to commemorate the dead to be held on Thursday. State media, meanwhile, said intelligence ministry agents had seized a cache of 126 mostly US-made guns smuggled to the central city of Isfahan from abroad. The protests were initially sparked in November by hikes in gasoline prices but demonstrators quickly expanded their demands to cover calls for more political freedom and other issues. The government, which launched the bloodiest crackdown on demonstrators in the 40-year history of the Islamic Republic, blamed foreign enemies for stoking tensions. An official denied any order by the authorities to block the internet, which was shut down for about a week in the November unrest. A news agency also cited mobile operators saying their services had not been disrupted. The semi-official news agency ILNA quoted an informed source at the Communications and Information Technology Ministry as saying mobile internet access to overseas sites was blocked by "security authorities" in Alborz, Kurdestan and Zanjan provinces in central and western Iran and Fars in the south. "According to this source, it is possible that more provinces will be affected by the shutdown of mobile international connectivity," ILNA said. Internet blockage observatory NetBlocks said on Twitter: "Confirmed: Evidence of mobile internet disruption in parts of #Iran ...real-time network data show two distinct drops in connectivity this morning amid reports of regional outages; incident ongoing." Confirmed: Evidence of mobile internet disruption in parts of #Iran beginning ~6:30 a.m. (03:00 UTC); real-time network data show two distinct drops in connectivity this morning amid reports of regional outages; incident ongoing 📉 #Internet4Iran 📰https://t.co/BNTPP9wEyt pic.twitter.com/1l1ZkLnQKJ — NetBlocks.org (@netblocks) December 25, 2019 × The shutdown appeared to be spreading. "I just checked myself and asked a friend, and the internet is off on our mobiles," a resident in Ahvaz, the capital of the oil producing Khuzestan province, told sources. But a communications ministry spokesman denied there was an order to shut down the internet. "No such order has been issued by the judiciary or other relevant authorities. The Fake News are at work," Jamal Hadian said in a Twitter post. Iran's three mobile operators also denied experiencing any internet disruptions, the local sources reported. In Alborz province, one of the areas affected by the shutdown, authorities this week arrested the parents of a young man who was shot dead during the protests, after pressuring them to call off a commemoration for their son scheduled for Thursday, citing concerns it could create unrest. The weapons seized in Isfahan included assault rifles, handguns and pellet guns, the state news agency IRNA said. "Most of the weapons carry USA badges and are American-made," it added. The internet blockage made it difficult for protesters to post videos on social media to generate support and also to obtain reliable reports on the extent of the unrest. Security forces have been on alert for any events that could spark more unrest after 1,500 people were killed in less than two weeks after protests erupted on November 15, according to reports. That figure is much higher than estimates by international human rights groups and was also dismissed as "fake news" by a spokesman for Iran's top state security body. The United States imposed sanctions on Iran's communications minister last month for his role in "widescale internet censorship," a reference to the nationwide shutdown. Iran has blamed "thugs" linked to exiles and foreign foes - the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia - for stirring up unrest through social media. During the protests, hundreds of banks and public buildings were attacked and damaged.

Iran curbs internet before possible new protests: Reports

U.S. top diplomat Brian Hook slams Tehran, says 1000 killed in Iran protests, U.S. and Iran spar over anti-govt. protests.

U.S. says 1000 killed in Iran protests

The Iranian port city of Bandar-e-Mahshahr has emerged as the scene of some of the worst violence in Iran’s brutal crackdown on recent anti-government protests.

Located in Iran’s oil-rich Khuzestan province, home to the country’s restive ethnic Arab minority, the protests in Bandar-e-Mahshahr strengthened Iran in its belief that the anti-government outburst was yet another effort to destabilise the Islamic republic by the United States, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Iranian state television reported that security forces had confronted a separatist group in the city that was armed with “semi-heavy” weapons. It claimed the armed rioters had fought with security personnel for hours.

Iranian exiles in contact with family and friends in Bandar-e-Mahshahr said protesters blocked off a road leading from the city, that is home to Iran’s largest petrochemical complex, to the village of Koora.

In contrast to past protests in the province, the protesters chanted slogans against Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani rather than Arab nationalist phrases.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ 3rd Marine Force Division, based on the outskirts of the city, intervened with armoured vehicles after police failed to disperse the protesters. The exiles said the Guards opened fire on protesters trying to escape into nearby marshlands.

An unconfirmed video purportedly documenting the killing of up to 100 people shows armoured vehicles driving down a road as multiple rounds are fired and men are heard shouting. “They simply mowed them down,” said one of the exiles who studied in Bandar-e-Mahshahr and has relatives in the city.

In many ways, the protests in Bandar-e-Mahshahr and multiple other Iranian cities fit a global pattern; a specific issue sparks anti-government demonstrations that quickly evolve into a mass movement demanding a complete overhaul of a political system that has failed to cater to the aspirations of major segments of the population.

In Hong Kong the spark was a law that would enable extraditions to mainland China, in Santiago de Chile it was public transportation price hikes and in Iran, it was a surprise increase in petrol prices.

Struggling under the yoke of harsh US economic sanctions imposed after the Trump administration’s unilateral withdrawal in 2018 from the international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program, Iranian leaders failed to recognise that long-standing mismanagement of the economy and widespread corruption was undermining their legitimacy.

The notion of a US-Saudi-Israeli conspiracy to stoke unrest among Iran’s ethnic minorities in a bid to destabilise the regime was reinforced by statements in recent years by American, Saudi and Israeli officials and a series of violent incidents in Khuzestan as well as the Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchistan and Kurdish regions of Iran.

Ayatollah Khamenei’s insistence that the Iranian protests constituted a ‘dangerous conspiracy’ by the United States was hardly surprising.

The protests erupted after weeks in which demonstrators in Iraq denounced Iranian influence in their country and attacked the Islamic republic’s consulates in Basra and Najaf. Similarly, Lebanon, home to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shiite militia, has been paralysed for the past two months by anti-sectarian protesters.

The conviction that Iran’s enemies were tightening the noose around its neck may well have some grounding in reality even if the Islamic republic’s most recent regional setbacks, as well as the outburst of deep-seated anger at home, cannot be reduced to foreign conspiracies.

The brutality with which the regime cracked down on protesters as well as its drastic decision to shut down the Internet for four days suggests that Iran has little faith in indications that Saudi Arabia is groping for ways to dial down tension with its arch-rival or Omani efforts to mediate.

It also explains why the squashing of the protests in Bandar-e-Mahshahr may have been particularly harsh.

The Ahvaz National Resistance, an Iranian Arab separatist group, claimed responsibility in September 2018 for an attack on a Revolutionary Guards parade in the Khuzestan capital of Ahwaz in which 29 people were killed and 70 others wounded.

Unidentified gunmen in the Netherlands killed Ahmad Mola Nissi, a leader of the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz (ASMLA), in November 2017.

Shot dead on a street in The Hague, Mola Nissi died the violent life he was alleged to have lived.

A 52-year-old refugee living in the Netherlands since 2005, Mola Nissi was believed to have been responsible for attacks in Khuzestan in 2005, 2006 and 2013 on oil facilities, the office of the Khuzestan governor, other government offices, and banks.

Mola Nissi focussed in his most recent years on media activities and fundraising, at times creating footage of alleged attacks involving gas cylinder explosions to attract Saudi funding, according to Iranian activists.

Mola Nissi was killed as he was preparing to establish a television station backed by Saudi-trained personnel and funding that would target Khuzestan.

Protests in Khuzestan have focussed in recent years on identity, environmental degradation, and social issues.

International human rights groups have long accused Iran of discriminating against Iranian Arabs even though a majority are Shiite rather than Sunni Muslims. Dozens of protesters were reportedly killed during demonstrations in Ahwaz in 2011 that were inspired by the popular Arab revolts.

“Despite Khuzestan's natural resource wealth, its ethnic Arab population, which is believed to constitute a majority in the province, has long complained about the lack of socio-economic development in the region. They also allege that the Iranian government has engaged in systematic discrimination against them, particularly in the areas of employment, housing, and civil and political rights,” Human Rights Watch said at the time.

That was in 2011. Like in the rest of Iran, things have only gotten worse in Khuzestan since. 
 
&nbsp;(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

The Iranian port city of Bandar-e-Mahshahr has emerged as the scene of some of the worst violence in Iran’s brutal crackdown on recent anti-government protests. Located in Iran’s oil-rich Khuzestan province, home to the country’s restive ethnic Arab minority, the protests in Bandar-e-Mahshahr strengthened Iran in its belief that the anti-government outburst was yet another effort to destabilise the Islamic republic by the United States, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

The Iranian port city of Bandar-e-Mahshahr has emerged as the scene of some of the worst violence in Iran’s brutal crackdown on recent anti-government protests. Located in Iran’s oil-rich Khuzestan province, home to the country’s restive ethnic Arab minority, the protests in Bandar-e-Mahshahr strengthened Iran in its belief that the anti-government outburst was yet another effort to destabilise the Islamic republic by the United States, Saudi Arabia and Israel. Iranian state television reported that security forces had confronted a separatist group in the city that was armed with “semi-heavy” weapons. It claimed the armed rioters had fought with security personnel for hours. Iranian exiles in contact with family and friends in Bandar-e-Mahshahr said protesters blocked off a road leading from the city, that is home to Iran’s largest petrochemical complex, to the village of Koora. In contrast to past protests in the province, the protesters chanted slogans against Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani rather than Arab nationalist phrases. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ 3rd Marine Force Division, based on the outskirts of the city, intervened with armoured vehicles after police failed to disperse the protesters. The exiles said the Guards opened fire on protesters trying to escape into nearby marshlands. An unconfirmed video purportedly documenting the killing of up to 100 people shows armoured vehicles driving down a road as multiple rounds are fired and men are heard shouting. “They simply mowed them down,” said one of the exiles who studied in Bandar-e-Mahshahr and has relatives in the city. In many ways, the protests in Bandar-e-Mahshahr and multiple other Iranian cities fit a global pattern; a specific issue sparks anti-government demonstrations that quickly evolve into a mass movement demanding a complete overhaul of a political system that has failed to cater to the aspirations of major segments of the population. In Hong Kong the spark was a law that would enable extraditions to mainland China, in Santiago de Chile it was public transportation price hikes and in Iran, it was a surprise increase in petrol prices. Struggling under the yoke of harsh US economic sanctions imposed after the Trump administration’s unilateral withdrawal in 2018 from the international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program, Iranian leaders failed to recognise that long-standing mismanagement of the economy and widespread corruption was undermining their legitimacy. The notion of a US-Saudi-Israeli conspiracy to stoke unrest among Iran’s ethnic minorities in a bid to destabilise the regime was reinforced by statements in recent years by American, Saudi and Israeli officials and a series of violent incidents in Khuzestan as well as the Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchistan and Kurdish regions of Iran. Ayatollah Khamenei’s insistence that the Iranian protests constituted a ‘dangerous conspiracy’ by the United States was hardly surprising. The protests erupted after weeks in which demonstrators in Iraq denounced Iranian influence in their country and attacked the Islamic republic’s consulates in Basra and Najaf. Similarly, Lebanon, home to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shiite militia, has been paralysed for the past two months by anti-sectarian protesters. The conviction that Iran’s enemies were tightening the noose around its neck may well have some grounding in reality even if the Islamic republic’s most recent regional setbacks, as well as the outburst of deep-seated anger at home, cannot be reduced to foreign conspiracies. The brutality with which the regime cracked down on protesters as well as its drastic decision to shut down the Internet for four days suggests that Iran has little faith in indications that Saudi Arabia is groping for ways to dial down tension with its arch-rival or Omani efforts to mediate. It also explains why the squashing of the protests in Bandar-e-Mahshahr may have been particularly harsh. The Ahvaz National Resistance, an Iranian Arab separatist group, claimed responsibility in September 2018 for an attack on a Revolutionary Guards parade in the Khuzestan capital of Ahwaz in which 29 people were killed and 70 others wounded. Unidentified gunmen in the Netherlands killed Ahmad Mola Nissi, a leader of the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz (ASMLA), in November 2017. Shot dead on a street in The Hague, Mola Nissi died the violent life he was alleged to have lived. A 52-year-old refugee living in the Netherlands since 2005, Mola Nissi was believed to have been responsible for attacks in Khuzestan in 2005, 2006 and 2013 on oil facilities, the office of the Khuzestan governor, other government offices, and banks. Mola Nissi focussed in his most recent years on media activities and fundraising, at times creating footage of alleged attacks involving gas cylinder explosions to attract Saudi funding, according to Iranian activists. Mola Nissi was killed as he was preparing to establish a television station backed by Saudi-trained personnel and funding that would target Khuzestan. Protests in Khuzestan have focussed in recent years on identity, environmental degradation, and social issues. International human rights groups have long accused Iran of discriminating against Iranian Arabs even though a majority are Shiite rather than Sunni Muslims. Dozens of protesters were reportedly killed during demonstrations in Ahwaz in 2011 that were inspired by the popular Arab revolts. “Despite Khuzestan's natural resource wealth, its ethnic Arab population, which is believed to constitute a majority in the province, has long complained about the lack of socio-economic development in the region. They also allege that the Iranian government has engaged in systematic discrimination against them, particularly in the areas of employment, housing, and civil and political rights,” Human Rights Watch said at the time. That was in 2011. Like in the rest of Iran, things have only gotten worse in Khuzestan since. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Protests in Iran seen as a consipiracy to destabilise current political regime

Iran on Saturday disputed death tolls issued abroad for the bloodshed that erupted during protests in the country over fuel prices after a rights group said over 160 demonstrators were killed.

The demonstrations flared in mid-November after the price of petrol in the Islamic republic went up overnight by as much as 200 per cent.

Officials in Iran have yet to say how many people died in the ensuing violence that saw banks, petrol pumps and police stations set on fire.

London-based human rights group Amnesty International said in a tweet on Friday that the crackdown claimed the lives of 161 demonstrators.

But Iran's deputy interior minister, Jamal Orf, disputed such figures.

"Statistics by international organisations on those killed in the recent incidents are not credible," he was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.

Orf accused the sources that reported the figures of "exaggerating" them.

The prosecution service, he added, was set to announce the figures based on those it receives from the coroner's office.

Prior to its latest tweet, Amnesty International said on Monday that 143 demonstrators had been killed in the crackdown, citing what it called "credible reports".

The governments of the United States, France and Germany have condemned Iran over the bloodshed.

The unrest broke out on November 15, hours after it was announced that the price of gas would rise to 15,000 rials per litre (12 US cents) from 10,000 for the first 60 litres, and to 30,000 rials for any extra fuel bought after that each month.

Iran's economy has been battered since last year when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from a 2015 nuclear agreement and reimposed crippling sanctions on the Islamic republic.

The government in Tehran said proceeds from the fuel price hike would go to the neediest people in the country.

According to IRNA, the payments have since been made in three installations between November 18 and 23. 
&nbsp;

Iran on Saturday disputed death tolls issued abroad for the bloodshed that erupted during protests in the country over fuel prices after a rights group said over 160 demonstrators were killed.

Iran on Saturday disputed death tolls issued abroad for the bloodshed that erupted during protests in the country over fuel prices after a rights group said over 160 demonstrators were killed. The demonstrations flared in mid-November after the price of petrol in the Islamic republic went up overnight by as much as 200 per cent. Officials in Iran have yet to say how many people died in the ensuing violence that saw banks, petrol pumps and police stations set on fire. London-based human rights group Amnesty International said in a tweet on Friday that the crackdown claimed the lives of 161 demonstrators. But Iran's deputy interior minister, Jamal Orf, disputed such figures. "Statistics by international organisations on those killed in the recent incidents are not credible," he was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA. Orf accused the sources that reported the figures of "exaggerating" them. The prosecution service, he added, was set to announce the figures based on those it receives from the coroner's office. Prior to its latest tweet, Amnesty International said on Monday that 143 demonstrators had been killed in the crackdown, citing what it called "credible reports". The governments of the United States, France and Germany have condemned Iran over the bloodshed. The unrest broke out on November 15, hours after it was announced that the price of gas would rise to 15,000 rials per litre (12 US cents) from 10,000 for the first 60 litres, and to 30,000 rials for any extra fuel bought after that each month. Iran's economy has been battered since last year when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from a 2015 nuclear agreement and reimposed crippling sanctions on the Islamic republic. The government in Tehran said proceeds from the fuel price hike would go to the neediest people in the country. According to IRNA, the payments have since been made in three installations between November 18 and 23.

Iran disputes 'exaggerated' protest death tolls

Iran on Thursday began restoring internet access in the capital Tehran and a number of provinces, local news agencies and residents said, after a days-long nationwide shutdown meant to help stifle unrest over fuel price hikes.

The Revolutionary Guards said calm had returned across Iran, state TV reported, after protests in which <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-100-protesters-believed-killed-in-iran-amnesty-263228">Amnesty International said over 100 demonstrators had been killed</a> by security forces, a figure rejected as "speculative" by the government.

"The internet is being gradually restored in the country," the semi-official news agency Fars said, quoting unidentified informed sources as saying.

Fars quoted unnamed sources as saying the National Security Council that had ordered the shutdown approved reactivating the internet in "some areas and, according to reports so far, fixed line internet has been restored in Hormozgan, Kermanshah, Arak, Mashhad, Qom, Tabriz, Hamadan and Bushehr provinces, and parts of Tehran".

"We again have internet as of an hour ago," a retired engineer who declined to be named said by telephone from Tehran.

The internet blockage made it difficult for protesters to post videos on social media to generate more support and also to obtain reliable reports on the extent of the unrest.

Internet blockage observatory NetBlocks said the restoration of connectivity in Iran was only partial so far, covering about 10% of the country.

The unrest erupted on Nov. 15 after the government announced gasoline price hikes of at least 50%. Protests began in several provincial towns before spreading to some 100 cities and towns across the Islamic Republic. They quickly turned political with protesters demanding top officials to step down.

On Thursday, state TV showed thousands marching in pro-government rallies in a dozen cities, carrying national flags and signs with slogans including "Rioting is not protesting".

Amnesty International said it had documented at least 106 deaths of protesters killed by security forces, which would make it the worst street unrest in Iran in at least a decade and possibly since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran’s U.N. mission on Wednesday dismissed the casualty report as "speculative, not reliable".

Iranian authorities said several people, including members of the security forces and policemen, were killed in street violence, which Tehran blamed on "foreign foes".

Iran on Thursday began restoring internet access in the capital Tehran and a number of provinces, local news agencies and residents said, after a days-long nationwide shutdown meant to help stifle unrest over fuel price hikes.

Iran on Thursday began restoring internet access in the capital Tehran and a number of provinces, local news agencies and residents said, after a days-long nationwide shutdown meant to help stifle unrest over fuel price hikes. The Revolutionary Guards said calm had returned across Iran, state TV reported, after protests in which Amnesty International said over 100 demonstrators had been killed by security forces, a figure rejected as "speculative" by the government. "The internet is being gradually restored in the country," the semi-official news agency Fars said, quoting unidentified informed sources as saying. Fars quoted unnamed sources as saying the National Security Council that had ordered the shutdown approved reactivating the internet in "some areas and, according to reports so far, fixed line internet has been restored in Hormozgan, Kermanshah, Arak, Mashhad, Qom, Tabriz, Hamadan and Bushehr provinces, and parts of Tehran". "We again have internet as of an hour ago," a retired engineer who declined to be named said by telephone from Tehran. The internet blockage made it difficult for protesters to post videos on social media to generate more support and also to obtain reliable reports on the extent of the unrest. Internet blockage observatory NetBlocks said the restoration of connectivity in Iran was only partial so far, covering about 10% of the country. The unrest erupted on Nov. 15 after the government announced gasoline price hikes of at least 50%. Protests began in several provincial towns before spreading to some 100 cities and towns across the Islamic Republic. They quickly turned political with protesters demanding top officials to step down. On Thursday, state TV showed thousands marching in pro-government rallies in a dozen cities, carrying national flags and signs with slogans including "Rioting is not protesting". Amnesty International said it had documented at least 106 deaths of protesters killed by security forces, which would make it the worst street unrest in Iran in at least a decade and possibly since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran’s U.N. mission on Wednesday dismissed the casualty report as "speculative, not reliable". Iranian authorities said several people, including members of the security forces and policemen, were killed in street violence, which Tehran blamed on "foreign foes".

Iran begins reconnecting internet after shutdown over protests

More than 100 demonstrators are believed to have been killed across Iran since leaders ordered security forces to stamp out protests triggered by fuel price rises, Amnesty International said Tuesday.

"At least 106 protesters in 21 cities have been killed, according to credible reports," the London-based rights group said.

It added that "the real death toll may be much higher, with some reports suggesting as many as 200 have been killed".

The rights watchdog said the security forces had received a "green light to crush" the protests which broke out on Friday and had spread to more than 100 cities across Iran.

"Authorities must end this brutal and deadly crackdown immediately," said Amnesty's Philip Luther, whose organisation based its report on "verified video footage, eyewitness testimony from people on the ground and information" from rights activists outside Iran.

Amnesty also urged Iranian authorities to "lift the near-total block on internet access designed to restrict the flow of information about the crackdown to the outside world".

It said video footage showed that "snipers have also shot into crowds of people from rooftops and, in one case, a helicopter".

While most demonstrations appeared to have been peaceful, it said, "a small number of protesters turned to stone-throwing and acts of arson and damage to banks and seminaries".

Security forces had been seen taking away dead bodies and injured people from roads and hospitals, according to witnesses, and refused to hand over bodies of victims to their families, Amnesty said.

A hike in petrol price sparked the protests in which Iran has officially confirmed at least five dead, including three security personnel allegedly stabbed to death by "rioters".

More than 100 demonstrators are believed to have been killed across Iran since leaders ordered security forces to stamp out protests triggered by fuel price rises, Amnesty International said Tuesday.

More than 100 demonstrators are believed to have been killed across Iran since leaders ordered security forces to stamp out protests triggered by fuel price rises, Amnesty International said Tuesday. "At least 106 protesters in 21 cities have been killed, according to credible reports," the London-based rights group said. It added that "the real death toll may be much higher, with some reports suggesting as many as 200 have been killed". The rights watchdog said the security forces had received a "green light to crush" the protests which broke out on Friday and had spread to more than 100 cities across Iran. "Authorities must end this brutal and deadly crackdown immediately," said Amnesty's Philip Luther, whose organisation based its report on "verified video footage, eyewitness testimony from people on the ground and information" from rights activists outside Iran. Amnesty also urged Iranian authorities to "lift the near-total block on internet access designed to restrict the flow of information about the crackdown to the outside world". It said video footage showed that "snipers have also shot into crowds of people from rooftops and, in one case, a helicopter". While most demonstrations appeared to have been peaceful, it said, "a small number of protesters turned to stone-throwing and acts of arson and damage to banks and seminaries". Security forces had been seen taking away dead bodies and injured people from roads and hospitals, according to witnesses, and refused to hand over bodies of victims to their families, Amnesty said. A hike in petrol price sparked the protests in which Iran has officially confirmed at least five dead, including three security personnel allegedly stabbed to death by "rioters".

More than 100 protesters believed killed in Iran: Amnesty

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday supported government's decision to hike petrol prices and blamed the opponents of the Islamic Republic for the vandalism on Saturday's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protests-erupt-in-iran-over-fuel-price-hike-262533">protests</a>.&nbsp;

"Some people are no doubt worried by this decision ... but sabotage and arson is done by hooligans not our people. The counter-revolution and Iran's enemies have always supported sabotage and breaches of security and continue to do so," Ayatollah Khamenei said, reports Iran's state television.&nbsp;

Forty people have been arrested&nbsp;in the central Iranian city of Yazd for clashing with the police during protests on Saturday,&nbsp;the semi-official ISNA news agency reported Sunday. The police added that those arrested participated in the vandalism and most of them were not locals.

Khamenei added that if heads of three departments have made a decision on the price hike, then he will support the decision. &nbsp;

On Saturday, protests erupted in Iran a day after the government surprised with a decision to ration petrol and hike its price.&nbsp;

Iran's news agency IRNA said that the demonstrations were "severe" in Srijan in central Iran where protesters even attacked a fuel storage warehouse and tried to set fire to it.

The protests were also held in other cities such as&nbsp;Mashhad, Birjand, Ahvaz, Gachsaran, Abadan, Khoramshahr, Mahshahr, Shiraz and Bandar Abbas.&nbsp;

On Friday, Iran imposed petrol rationing and raised pump prices by at least 50 per cent, claiming that the move will help citizens in need with cash handouts. The move is expected to bring 2.55 billion&nbsp;per annum,&nbsp;the head of the country's Planning and Budget Organisation, Mohammad Bagher Nobakht said.&nbsp;

On Saturday, Iranian&nbsp;President Hassan Rouhani said that "75 per cent of the country are under pressure" and the extra revenue will go only&nbsp;to them not the treasury.&nbsp;

Iran's economy is facing serious trouble since last May when US President Donald Trump pulled out of a 2015 nuclear agreement and imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic.&nbsp;

Inflation is high as much as 40 per cent and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted that the country's growth will shrink 9 per cent in 2020 and stagnate in 2020.

In December 2018, Rouhani tried to increase the fuel prices but his move was blocked in the Parliament due to intense protests that lasted several days. The speaker of the Parliament had said during that time that the move is not in the interests of the people of Iran.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday supported government's decision to hike petrol prices and blamed the opponents of the Islamic Republic for the vandalism on Saturday's protests.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday supported government's decision to hike petrol prices and blamed the opponents of the Islamic Republic for the vandalism on Saturday's protests. "Some people are no doubt worried by this decision ... but sabotage and arson is done by hooligans not our people. The counter-revolution and Iran's enemies have always supported sabotage and breaches of security and continue to do so," Ayatollah Khamenei said, reports Iran's state television. Forty people have been arrested in the central Iranian city of Yazd for clashing with the police during protests on Saturday, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported Sunday. The police added that those arrested participated in the vandalism and most of them were not locals. Khamenei added that if heads of three departments have made a decision on the price hike, then he will support the decision. On Saturday, protests erupted in Iran a day after the government surprised with a decision to ration petrol and hike its price. Iran's news agency IRNA said that the demonstrations were "severe" in Srijan in central Iran where protesters even attacked a fuel storage warehouse and tried to set fire to it. The protests were also held in other cities such as Mashhad, Birjand, Ahvaz, Gachsaran, Abadan, Khoramshahr, Mahshahr, Shiraz and Bandar Abbas. On Friday, Iran imposed petrol rationing and raised pump prices by at least 50 per cent, claiming that the move will help citizens in need with cash handouts. The move is expected to bring 2.55 billion per annum, the head of the country's Planning and Budget Organisation, Mohammad Bagher Nobakht said. On Saturday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that "75 per cent of the country are under pressure" and the extra revenue will go only to them not the treasury. Iran's economy is facing serious trouble since last May when US President Donald Trump pulled out of a 2015 nuclear agreement and imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Inflation is high as much as 40 per cent and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted that the country's growth will shrink 9 per cent in 2020 and stagnate in 2020. In December 2018, Rouhani tried to increase the fuel prices but his move was blocked in the Parliament due to intense protests that lasted several days. The speaker of the Parliament had said during that time that the move is not in the interests of the people of Iran. (with inputs from agencies)

Fuel price hike: Iran supreme leader Khamenei voices support

Sporadic protests erupted in cities across Iran, state news agency IRNA said on Saturday, a day after the government announced a surprise decision to ration petrol and hike its price.

The demonstrations on Friday night were "severe" in Sirjan in central Iran as "people attacked a fuel storage warehouse in the city and tried to set fire to it," the news agency reported.

But police intervened to prevent them.

IRNA said "scattered" protests also broke out in other cities including Mashhad, Birjand, Ahvaz, Gachsaran, Abadan, Khoramshahr, Mahshahr, Shiraz and Bandar Abbas.

They were mostly limited to blocking traffic and were over by midnight, it added.

Iran imposed petrol rationing and raised pump prices by at least 50 per cent on Friday, saying the move was aimed at helping citizens in need with cash handouts.

The measure was expected to bring in 300 trillion rials ($2.55 billion) per annum, the head of the country's Planning and Budget Organisation, Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, said on state television.

About 60 million Iranians in need would get payments ranging from 550,000 rials ($4.68) for couples to slightly more than two million rials ($17.46) for families with five members or more, he added.

Sporadic protests erupted in cities across Iran, state news agency IRNA said on Saturday, a day after the government announced a surprise decision to ration petrol and hike its price.

Sporadic protests erupted in cities across Iran, state news agency IRNA said on Saturday, a day after the government announced a surprise decision to ration petrol and hike its price. The demonstrations on Friday night were "severe" in Sirjan in central Iran as "people attacked a fuel storage warehouse in the city and tried to set fire to it," the news agency reported. But police intervened to prevent them. IRNA said "scattered" protests also broke out in other cities including Mashhad, Birjand, Ahvaz, Gachsaran, Abadan, Khoramshahr, Mahshahr, Shiraz and Bandar Abbas. They were mostly limited to blocking traffic and were over by midnight, it added. Iran imposed petrol rationing and raised pump prices by at least 50 per cent on Friday, saying the move was aimed at helping citizens in need with cash handouts. The measure was expected to bring in 300 trillion rials ($2.55 billion) per annum, the head of the country's Planning and Budget Organisation, Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, said on state television. About 60 million Iranians in need would get payments ranging from 550,000 rials ($4.68) for couples to slightly more than two million rials ($17.46) for families with five members or more, he added.

Protests erupt in Iran over fuel price hike

Iran&#39;s President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday called for a &quot;year of unity&quot; after recent protests as Iran celebrated 39 years since the Islamic revolution.

Rouhani said conservative officials should not block candidates they dislike from future elections, and that there should be greater trust in the people, including the use of referenda on key issues.

&quot;I request that the 40th year of the revolution, the coming year, be the year of unity. I ask conservatives, reformists, moderates and all parties and all people to come and be together,&quot; he said in a speech before a huge crowd in Tehran.

Rouhani, a long-time regime insider who won power in 2013 and again in 2017 with the backing of reformists, has faced tough criticism from conservatives over his efforts to rebuild relations with the West and ease civil liberties.&nbsp;

He has tried to use protests that hit dozens of cities over the new year as a way to convince conservatives that they must follow his calls for reform.&nbsp;

&quot;We should trust the people. We must allow all inclinations to participate in elections,&quot; he said in an apparent swipe at the conservative-dominated Guardian Council, which regularly blocks hundreds of reformist candidates from standing in presidential and parliamentary votes.

&quot;Our revolution was victorious when we were all together,&quot; he said.

&quot;And today we must once again invite everyone to get on board the successful and victorious train of the revolution.

&quot;All Iranian races, all Iranian religions, Shiites and Sunnis, Muslims, Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians -- whoever believes in the constitution, that is our criteria. He is a revolutionary and he must be respected,&quot; Rouhani said.&nbsp;

He raised a controversial demand to use referenda, which are allowed under article 59 of the constitution that was passed after the 1979 revolution, but have not been used for decades.

&quot;If there are differences of opinions on a couple of issues... bring the ballot box and according to the article 59 of the constitution, whatever people say, act accordingly,&quot; said Rouhani.

His words immediately triggered support on social media, including tweets with the hashtag #referendum.

Rouhani did not specify which issues could be put in question, but his comments come amid growing debate over social freedoms including an imposed headscarf for women, which has triggered unprecedented protests by a small number of people in recent weeks.&nbsp;

Rouhani&#39;s office issued a study last month saying half of Tehranis did not support mandatory hijab, making it very difficult to enforce.

&quot;We should leave people alone and not interfere in their private sphere,&quot; said Rouhani.&nbsp;

He referred to an order from revolutionary founder Ruhollah Khomeini, which banned the authorities from intruding in people&#39;s private lives.

Rouhani said conservative officials should not block candidates they dislike from future elections, and that there should be greater trust in the people, including the use of referenda on key issues

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday called for a "year of unity" after recent protests as Iran celebrated 39 years since the Islamic revolution. Rouhani said conservative officials should not block candidates they dislike from future elections, and that there should be greater trust in the people, including the use of referenda on key issues. "I request that the 40th year of the revolution, the coming year, be the year of unity. I ask conservatives, reformists, moderates and all parties and all people to come and be together," he said in a speech before a huge crowd in Tehran. Rouhani, a long-time regime insider who won power in 2013 and again in 2017 with the backing of reformists, has faced tough criticism from conservatives over his efforts to rebuild relations with the West and ease civil liberties. He has tried to use protests that hit dozens of cities over the new year as a way to convince conservatives that they must follow his calls for reform. "We should trust the people. We must allow all inclinations to participate in elections," he said in an apparent swipe at the conservative-dominated Guardian Council, which regularly blocks hundreds of reformist candidates from standing in presidential and parliamentary votes. "Our revolution was victorious when we were all together," he said. "And today we must once again invite everyone to get on board the successful and victorious train of the revolution. "All Iranian races, all Iranian religions, Shiites and Sunnis, Muslims, Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians -- whoever believes in the constitution, that is our criteria. He is a revolutionary and he must be respected," Rouhani said. He raised a controversial demand to use referenda, which are allowed under article 59 of the constitution that was passed after the 1979 revolution, but have not been used for decades. "If there are differences of opinions on a couple of issues... bring the ballot box and according to the article 59 of the constitution, whatever people say, act accordingly," said Rouhani. His words immediately triggered support on social media, including tweets with the hashtag #referendum. Rouhani did not specify which issues could be put in question, but his comments come amid growing debate over social freedoms including an imposed headscarf for women, which has triggered unprecedented protests by a small number of people in recent weeks. Rouhani's office issued a study last month saying half of Tehranis did not support mandatory hijab, making it very difficult to enforce. "We should leave people alone and not interfere in their private sphere," said Rouhani. He referred to an order from revolutionary founder Ruhollah Khomeini, which banned the authorities from intruding in people's private lives.

Iran's Rouhani calls for 'year of unity' after protests

Iran&#39;s supreme leader blamed &quot;enemies&quot; Tuesday for unrest that has seen 21 deaths as Washington sought to increase pressure on the Islamic regime that was facing its biggest test in years.

In a speech carried on state television, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei broke his silence on the protests for the first time since they erupted last Thursday.

&quot;The enemies have united and are using all their means, money, weapons, policies and security services to create problems for the Islamic regime,&quot; the supreme leader said.

&quot;The enemy is always looking for an opportunity and any crevice to infiltrate and strike the Iranian nation.&quot;

Even reformists, who backed the last major protest movement in 2009, condemned the unrest and the support it has received from the United States.

But they also urged the authorities to address economic grievances that have fuelled the protests.

&quot;The Iranian people are confronted with difficulties in their daily lives... and have the right to peacefully demand and protest,&quot; said a statement from the Association of Combatant Clerics, headed by reformist ex-president Mohammad Khatami. Also Read - <a href="http://http://www.wionews.com/world/9-dead-in-overnight-iran-unrest-state-tv-28310">9 dead in overnight Iran unrest: State TV</a>

Major challenge 
 
A fifth night of unrest Monday to Tuesday saw six protesters killed during an attack on a police station in Qahderijan in the central province of Isfahan, state TV said.

At least three other towns near the cultural hub of Isfahan also saw violence overnight, causing the deaths of a young member of the Revolutionary Guards, a policeman and a bystander.

The estimated death toll is now 21 since protests began in second city Mashhad and quickly spread to become the biggest challenge to the Islamic regime since mass demonstrations in 2009.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini late Tuesday deplored &quot;the unacceptable loss of human lives&quot; and called on &quot;all concerned to refrain from violence&quot;.

As violence has grown, authorities have stepped up arrests, with at least 450 people detained in Tehran since Saturday and 100 more around Isfahan on Monday, media reported.

US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised Tehran since the latest protests began, praised the demonstrators for acting against the &quot;brutal and corrupt&quot; regime and said Iranians had &quot;little food, big inflation and no human rights&quot;.

Iran&#39;s foreign ministry said Trump was &quot;wasting his time sending useless and insulting tweets&quot; and would be better off focusing on &quot;homeless and hungry people&quot; in his own country.

Trump&#39;s ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said the US would seek emergency UN talks on the situation.

&quot;The people of Iran are crying out for freedom,&quot; she said at a news conference. &quot;All freedom-loving people must stand with their cause.&quot;

&#39;Complete nonsense&#39; 
 
Haley rejected as &quot;complete nonsense&quot; Khamenei&#39;s charges that the protests were being fomented by Iran&#39;s &quot;enemies&quot;.

&quot;The freedoms that are enshrined in the United Nations charter are under attack in Iran. Dozens have already been killed. Hundreds have been arrested,&quot; she said.

&quot;If the Iranian dictatorship&#39;s history is any guide, we can expect more outrageous abuses in the days to come.&quot;

Iran&#39;s moderate President Hassan Rouhani phoned his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron Tuesday to demand action against the Paris-based &quot;terrorist&quot; Mujahedeen-e-Khalq opposition group he accused of fomenting protests.

A statement from the French presidency said Macron called for &quot;restraint&quot;, and both sides agreed to postpone an imminent visit to Tehran by the French foreign minister.

The unrest in Iran appears leaderless and focused on provincial towns and cities, with only small and sporadic protests in Tehran amid a heavy police presence.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, described the unrest as a &quot;proxy war against the Iranian people&quot; and said online accounts in the United States, Britain and Saudi Arabia were encouraging demonstrations.

Many Tehranis agreed with his assessment.

&quot;When there is a protest, you can be sure other countries will take advantage of it and interfere,&quot; 30-year-old architectural engineer Mehdi Rahmani told AFP.

But he also understood the economic grievances driving the unrest.

Economic woes 
 
&quot;The root of people&#39;s protests are merely their economic problems, the problem of youth unemployment,&quot; he said.

Rouhani has tried to play down the unrest, which began over economic woes but quickly turned against the regime as a whole.

Pro-regime rallies have also been held, reflecting continued support among a large conservative section of society.

The head of Tehran&#39;s revolutionary court, Moussa Ghazanfarabadi, warned that as violence grows punishments for demonstrators would get &quot;heavier&quot;.

&quot;We no longer consider them as protesters demanding rights, but as people targeting the regime,&quot; he told the conservative Tasnim news agency.

Rouhani came to power in 2013 promising to mend the economy and ease social tensions, but high living costs and a 12 percent unemployment rate have left many feeling that progress is too slow.

The young are the most affected, with as many as 40 per cent jobless according to analysts, and rural areas particularly hard-hit.

Rouhani on Sunday acknowledged there was &quot;no problem bigger than unemployment&quot;, and also vowed a more balanced media and more transparency.

In 2009, authorities ruthlessly put down protests against the re-election of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. At least 36 people were killed, according to an official toll, while the opposition says 72 died.

 
&nbsp;

Iran's supreme leader blamed "enemies" Tuesday for unrest that has seen 21 deaths as Washington sought to increase pressure on the Islamic regime that was facing its biggest test in years

Iran's supreme leader blamed "enemies" Tuesday for unrest that has seen 21 deaths as Washington sought to increase pressure on the Islamic regime that was facing its biggest test in years. In a speech carried on state television, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei broke his silence on the protests for the first time since they erupted last Thursday. "The enemies have united and are using all their means, money, weapons, policies and security services to create problems for the Islamic regime," the supreme leader said. "The enemy is always looking for an opportunity and any crevice to infiltrate and strike the Iranian nation." Even reformists, who backed the last major protest movement in 2009, condemned the unrest and the support it has received from the United States. But they also urged the authorities to address economic grievances that have fuelled the protests. "The Iranian people are confronted with difficulties in their daily lives... and have the right to peacefully demand and protest," said a statement from the Association of Combatant Clerics, headed by reformist ex-president Mohammad Khatami. Also Read - 9 dead in overnight Iran unrest: State TV Major challenge A fifth night of unrest Monday to Tuesday saw six protesters killed during an attack on a police station in Qahderijan in the central province of Isfahan, state TV said. At least three other towns near the cultural hub of Isfahan also saw violence overnight, causing the deaths of a young member of the Revolutionary Guards, a policeman and a bystander. The estimated death toll is now 21 since protests began in second city Mashhad and quickly spread to become the biggest challenge to the Islamic regime since mass demonstrations in 2009. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini late Tuesday deplored "the unacceptable loss of human lives" and called on "all concerned to refrain from violence". As violence has grown, authorities have stepped up arrests, with at least 450 people detained in Tehran since Saturday and 100 more around Isfahan on Monday, media reported. US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised Tehran since the latest protests began, praised the demonstrators for acting against the "brutal and corrupt" regime and said Iranians had "little food, big inflation and no human rights". Iran's foreign ministry said Trump was "wasting his time sending useless and insulting tweets" and would be better off focusing on "homeless and hungry people" in his own country. Trump's ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said the US would seek emergency UN talks on the situation. "The people of Iran are crying out for freedom," she said at a news conference. "All freedom-loving people must stand with their cause." 'Complete nonsense' Haley rejected as "complete nonsense" Khamenei's charges that the protests were being fomented by Iran's "enemies". "The freedoms that are enshrined in the United Nations charter are under attack in Iran. Dozens have already been killed. Hundreds have been arrested," she said. "If the Iranian dictatorship's history is any guide, we can expect more outrageous abuses in the days to come." Iran's moderate President Hassan Rouhani phoned his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron Tuesday to demand action against the Paris-based "terrorist" Mujahedeen-e-Khalq opposition group he accused of fomenting protests. A statement from the French presidency said Macron called for "restraint", and both sides agreed to postpone an imminent visit to Tehran by the French foreign minister. The unrest in Iran appears leaderless and focused on provincial towns and cities, with only small and sporadic protests in Tehran amid a heavy police presence. Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, described the unrest as a "proxy war against the Iranian people" and said online accounts in the United States, Britain and Saudi Arabia were encouraging demonstrations. Many Tehranis agreed with his assessment. "When there is a protest, you can be sure other countries will take advantage of it and interfere," 30-year-old architectural engineer Mehdi Rahmani told AFP. But he also understood the economic grievances driving the unrest. Economic woes "The root of people's protests are merely their economic problems, the problem of youth unemployment," he said. Rouhani has tried to play down the unrest, which began over economic woes but quickly turned against the regime as a whole. Pro-regime rallies have also been held, reflecting continued support among a large conservative section of society. The head of Tehran's revolutionary court, Moussa Ghazanfarabadi, warned that as violence grows punishments for demonstrators would get "heavier". "We no longer consider them as protesters demanding rights, but as people targeting the regime," he told the conservative Tasnim news agency. Rouhani came to power in 2013 promising to mend the economy and ease social tensions, but high living costs and a 12 percent unemployment rate have left many feeling that progress is too slow. The young are the most affected, with as many as 40 per cent jobless according to analysts, and rural areas particularly hard-hit. Rouhani on Sunday acknowledged there was "no problem bigger than unemployment", and also vowed a more balanced media and more transparency. In 2009, authorities ruthlessly put down protests against the re-election of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. At least 36 people were killed, according to an official toll, while the opposition says 72 died.

Khamenei blames Iran's 'enemies' for unrest as US ups pressure

Nine people were killed overnight in unrest related to protests in the Isfahan region of central Iran, the state broadcaster reported on Tuesday.

Six protesters were killed in clashes with security forces as they tried to storm a police station in the town of Qahderijan, which has a population of around 30,000.

A member of the Revolutionary Guards was killed in nearby Kahriz Sang, and a passer-by in the town of Kahriz Sang -- all in the region around the cultural centre of Isfahan. 
 
Around 100 people were arrested overnight in the same region, Iranian state television reported.

Earlier reports had already said a policeman was killed and three others injured in Najafabad after being shot with a hunting rifle.

That brings the estimated death toll to 21 in unrest linked to the protests, that began last Thursday in second city Mashhad and quickly spread across the country.

The unrest has remained focused on provincial towns and cities, with only sporadic protests reported in Tehran on Monday evening.

Nine people were killed overnight in unrest related to protests in the Isfahan region of central Iran, the state broadcaster reported

Nine people were killed overnight in unrest related to protests in the Isfahan region of central Iran, the state broadcaster reported on Tuesday. Six protesters were killed in clashes with security forces as they tried to storm a police station in the town of Qahderijan, which has a population of around 30,000. A member of the Revolutionary Guards was killed in nearby Kahriz Sang, and a passer-by in the town of Kahriz Sang -- all in the region around the cultural centre of Isfahan. Around 100 people were arrested overnight in the same region, Iranian state television reported. Earlier reports had already said a policeman was killed and three others injured in Najafabad after being shot with a hunting rifle. That brings the estimated death toll to 21 in unrest linked to the protests, that began last Thursday in second city Mashhad and quickly spread across the country. The unrest has remained focused on provincial towns and cities, with only sporadic protests reported in Tehran on Monday evening.

9 dead in overnight Iran unrest: State TV

Fresh protests broke out as night fell in Iran Monday with reports of a policeman shot dead, as the authorities moved to crack down on days of unrest across the country.

There was a heavy police presence in Tehran as small groups of protesters ran through the city centre shouting anti-regime slogans, local agencies reported.

Some arrests were made before calm returned to the capital, reports said.

State television said one policeman had been killed and three others wounded by fire from hunting rifles in the city of Najafabad in central Iran.

The latest demonstrations came despite President Hassan Rouhani&#39;s vow that the nation would deal with &quot;rioters and lawbreakers&quot;.

Media cited Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran&#39;s Supreme National Security Council, as blaming the violence on social media.

&quot;Hashtags and messages about the situation in Iran come from the United States, Britain and Saudi Arabia,&quot; he said.

&quot;What is happening on social networks concerning the situation in the country is a proxy war against the Iranian people.&quot;

US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised Tehran over four days of demonstrations, said it was &quot;time for a change&quot; and that Iran&#39;s people were &quot;hungry&quot; for freedom.

Iran&#39;s intelligence ministry released a statement saying &quot;rioters and instigators&quot; have been identified &quot;and will be dealt with seriously soon&quot;.

The Revolutionary Guards published photos of three wanted people and called on the public to report any &quot;seditionist elements&quot;.

The deadliest night yet was on Sunday, with state television reporting six people killed by gunfire in the western town of Tuyserkan, and a local lawmaker saying two people had been shot dead in the southwestern town of Izeh.

Two others, including a teenage boy, were run down and killed by a fire engine protesters stole in the western town of Dorud, the state broadcaster said.

The total death toll linked to the protests currently stands at 13.

Biggest test for regime 
Rouhani tried to play down the unrest, which began in second city Mashhad last Thursday and quickly spread across the country to become the biggest test for the regime since mass protests in 2009.

&quot;This is nothing,&quot; Rouhani said in a statement on the presidency website.

&quot;Our nation will deal with this minority who chant slogans against the law and people&#39;s wishes, and insult the sanctities and values of the revolution.&quot;

Pro-regime rallies were held across several towns and cities.&nbsp;

Reporting restrictions remained tight, but videos on social media showed seemingly widespread anti-government protests, with attacks on government buildings and a school for clergy in the northwestern town of Takestan on Sunday.

&#39;Scared of talking&#39; 
Tehran has seen relatively small protests, but many people sympathise with economic grievances driving the unrest.

&quot;Life is really difficult. The high prices really put me under pressure. My husband is a government worker but his salary is no way enough for us to make ends meet,&quot; said Farzaneh Mirzaie, 42, a mother of two.

&quot;Mr Rouhani says it&#39;s free for people to protest but we&#39;re scared of speaking. Even now, I&#39;m scared of talking to you,&quot; added Sarita Mohammadi, a 35-year-old teacher.

The authorities have confirmed more than 400 arrests since the outbreak of the unrest, of whom around 100 have been freed.&nbsp;

&quot;Those who have rightful demands must be guided in lawful ways and those who riot and commit sabotage and chaos and set fire to public property... must be confronted decisively,&quot; judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani told the state broadcaster.

&quot;The country must have discipline,&quot; he added.

Trump, a fierce critic of Tehran, used one of his first tweets of 2018 to again lash out.

&quot;The great Iranian people have been repressed for many years. They are hungry for food &amp; for freedom. Along with human rights, the wealth of Iran is being looted. TIME FOR CHANGE!&quot; he tweeted.

The European Union Monday pushed Iran to guarantee the right to protest and separately British foreign minister Boris Johnson said &quot;the UK is watching events in Iran closely&quot;.

&quot;We believe that there should be meaningful debate about the legitimate and important issues the protesters are raising and we look to the Iranian authorities to permit this,&quot; Johnson said in a statement.

Living costs, unemployment 
After initial silence, state media have shown some footage of demonstrations, focusing on young men attacking banks and vehicles, an attack on a town hall in Tehran and images of a man burning the Iranian flag.

Rouhani came to power in 2013 promising to mend the economy and ease social tensions, but high living costs and a 12 percent unemployment rate have left many feeling that progress is too slow.

&quot;We have no problem bigger than unemployment. Our economy needs an operation. We must all stand together,&quot; Rouhani acknowledged on Monday.

In 2009, authorities ruthlessly put down protests which followed a disputed presidential election that gave hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term. At least 36 people were killed in 2009, according to an official toll, while the opposition says 72 died.

There was a heavy police presence in Tehran as small groups of protesters ran through the city centre shouting anti-regime slogans, local agencies reported

Fresh protests broke out as night fell in Iran Monday with reports of a policeman shot dead, as the authorities moved to crack down on days of unrest across the country. There was a heavy police presence in Tehran as small groups of protesters ran through the city centre shouting anti-regime slogans, local agencies reported. Some arrests were made before calm returned to the capital, reports said. State television said one policeman had been killed and three others wounded by fire from hunting rifles in the city of Najafabad in central Iran. The latest demonstrations came despite President Hassan Rouhani's vow that the nation would deal with "rioters and lawbreakers". Media cited Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, as blaming the violence on social media. "Hashtags and messages about the situation in Iran come from the United States, Britain and Saudi Arabia," he said. "What is happening on social networks concerning the situation in the country is a proxy war against the Iranian people." US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised Tehran over four days of demonstrations, said it was "time for a change" and that Iran's people were "hungry" for freedom. Iran's intelligence ministry released a statement saying "rioters and instigators" have been identified "and will be dealt with seriously soon". The Revolutionary Guards published photos of three wanted people and called on the public to report any "seditionist elements". The deadliest night yet was on Sunday, with state television reporting six people killed by gunfire in the western town of Tuyserkan, and a local lawmaker saying two people had been shot dead in the southwestern town of Izeh. Two others, including a teenage boy, were run down and killed by a fire engine protesters stole in the western town of Dorud, the state broadcaster said. The total death toll linked to the protests currently stands at 13. Biggest test for regime Rouhani tried to play down the unrest, which began in second city Mashhad last Thursday and quickly spread across the country to become the biggest test for the regime since mass protests in 2009. "This is nothing," Rouhani said in a statement on the presidency website. "Our nation will deal with this minority who chant slogans against the law and people's wishes, and insult the sanctities and values of the revolution." Pro-regime rallies were held across several towns and cities. Reporting restrictions remained tight, but videos on social media showed seemingly widespread anti-government protests, with attacks on government buildings and a school for clergy in the northwestern town of Takestan on Sunday. 'Scared of talking' Tehran has seen relatively small protests, but many people sympathise with economic grievances driving the unrest. "Life is really difficult. The high prices really put me under pressure. My husband is a government worker but his salary is no way enough for us to make ends meet," said Farzaneh Mirzaie, 42, a mother of two. "Mr Rouhani says it's free for people to protest but we're scared of speaking. Even now, I'm scared of talking to you," added Sarita Mohammadi, a 35-year-old teacher. The authorities have confirmed more than 400 arrests since the outbreak of the unrest, of whom around 100 have been freed. "Those who have rightful demands must be guided in lawful ways and those who riot and commit sabotage and chaos and set fire to public property... must be confronted decisively," judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani told the state broadcaster. "The country must have discipline," he added. Trump, a fierce critic of Tehran, used one of his first tweets of 2018 to again lash out. "The great Iranian people have been repressed for many years. They are hungry for food & for freedom. Along with human rights, the wealth of Iran is being looted. TIME FOR CHANGE!" he tweeted. The European Union Monday pushed Iran to guarantee the right to protest and separately British foreign minister Boris Johnson said "the UK is watching events in Iran closely". "We believe that there should be meaningful debate about the legitimate and important issues the protesters are raising and we look to the Iranian authorities to permit this," Johnson said in a statement. Living costs, unemployment After initial silence, state media have shown some footage of demonstrations, focusing on young men attacking banks and vehicles, an attack on a town hall in Tehran and images of a man burning the Iranian flag. Rouhani came to power in 2013 promising to mend the economy and ease social tensions, but high living costs and a 12 percent unemployment rate have left many feeling that progress is too slow. "We have no problem bigger than unemployment. Our economy needs an operation. We must all stand together," Rouhani acknowledged on Monday. In 2009, authorities ruthlessly put down protests which followed a disputed presidential election that gave hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term. At least 36 people were killed in 2009, according to an official toll, while the opposition says 72 died.

Fresh protests in Iran; policeman killed, 3 injured

Iran&#39;s President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday that government bodies must provide &quot;space for criticism&quot; as he sought to head off days of unrest, but also warned protesters that violence was unacceptable.

Hundreds of protesters marched through Tehran and other cities in a fourth day of demonstrations as authorities cut access to social media.

Rouhani finally broke his silence on the protests that mark the biggest test for the regime since mass protests in 2009.

They began as demonstrations against economic conditions in second city Mashhad on Thursday, but quickly turned against the Islamic regime as a whole with thousands marching in towns across Iran amid chants of &quot;Death to the dictator&quot;.

&quot;The people are absolutely free in expressing their criticisms and even protests,&quot; Rouhani said at a cabinet meeting, according to the state broadcaster.

&quot;But criticism is different to violence and destroying public property.&quot;

He sought a conciliatory tone, saying that government bodies &quot;should provide space for legal criticism and protest&quot; and calling for greater transparency and a more balanced media.

US President Donald Trump said the &quot;big protests&quot; showed people &quot;were getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism&quot;.

&quot;Looks like they will not take it any longer,&quot; he wrote on Twitter.

In a later tweet, Trump accused Iran of &quot;numerous violations of Human Rights,&quot; and commented on the disruption to social media, saying it &quot;has now closed down the Internet so that peaceful demonstrators cannot communicate. Not good!&quot;

Rouhani dismissed Trump&#39;s comments.&nbsp;

&quot;This man who today in America wants to sympathise with our people has forgotten that a few months ago he called the nation of Iran terrorist.&quot;

&quot;This person whose whole being is against the nation of Iran has no right to feel pity for the people of Iran.&quot;

200 arrests in Tehran

Two hundred people were reported to have been arrested in Saturday night&#39;s unrest in Tehran, and officials confirmed two people had been killed in the small western town of Dorud.&nbsp;

In an apparent attempt to stave off more unrest, the authorities began blocking access to photo sharing and online messaging services on mobile phones, including Telegram, which the government accused of being used to foment violence, local media and Telegram&#39;s CEO said.

Conservative news agency Fars said Tehran shops had closed on Sunday &quot;for fear of damage to their shops by rioters.&quot;

After initial silence, state media has shown footage of unrest, focusing on young men violently targeting banks and vehicles, an attack on a town hall in Tehran, and images of a man burning the Iranian flag.

&quot;Those who damage public property, disrupt order and break the law must be responsible for their behaviour and pay the price,&quot; Interior Minister Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli said on state television.

&quot;The spreading of violence, fear and terror will definitely be confronted,&quot; he added.

There have been reminders of the continued support for the regime among conservative sections of society, with pro-regime students holding another day of demonstrations at the University of Tehran.

They had outnumbered protesters at the university on Saturday.

Dozens arrested

Rouhani came to power in 2013 promising to mend the economy and ease social tensions, but anger over high living costs and a 12-percent unemployment rate have left many feeling that progress is too slow.&nbsp;

Unemployment is particularly high among young people, who are generally considered less deferential to authority.

&quot;Rouhani has run an austerity budget since 2013 with the idea that it&#39;s a tough but necessary pill to swallow to manage inflation and currency problems and try to improve Iran&#39;s attractiveness for investment,&quot; said Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder of the Europe-Iran Forum.&nbsp;

&quot;But choosing years of austerity immediately after a very tough period of sanctions is bound to test people&#39;s patience,&quot; he told AFP.

The total number of arrests from the protests around the country remained unclear.

An official in Arak, around 300 kilometres (190 miles) southwest of Tehran, said 80 people had been detained there overnight.

Police have so far taken a relatively soft approach to the unrest. They deny shooting the two men killed in Dorud, and information has been hard to obtain amid a near-total media blackout.

The authorities have blamed external forces for fomenting violence, saying the majority of social media reports were emanating from regional rival Saudi Arabia or exile groups based in Europe.

Since the ruthless repression of the 2009 protests against a disputed presidential election that gave hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term, many middle-class Iranians have abandoned hope of securing change from the streets.

But low-level strikes and demonstrations have continued, with groups such as bus drivers, teachers and factory workers regularly protesting against unpaid wages and poor conditions.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday warned protesters that violence was unacceptable

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday that government bodies must provide "space for criticism" as he sought to head off days of unrest, but also warned protesters that violence was unacceptable. Hundreds of protesters marched through Tehran and other cities in a fourth day of demonstrations as authorities cut access to social media. Rouhani finally broke his silence on the protests that mark the biggest test for the regime since mass protests in 2009. They began as demonstrations against economic conditions in second city Mashhad on Thursday, but quickly turned against the Islamic regime as a whole with thousands marching in towns across Iran amid chants of "Death to the dictator". "The people are absolutely free in expressing their criticisms and even protests," Rouhani said at a cabinet meeting, according to the state broadcaster. "But criticism is different to violence and destroying public property." He sought a conciliatory tone, saying that government bodies "should provide space for legal criticism and protest" and calling for greater transparency and a more balanced media. US President Donald Trump said the "big protests" showed people "were getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism". "Looks like they will not take it any longer," he wrote on Twitter. In a later tweet, Trump accused Iran of "numerous violations of Human Rights," and commented on the disruption to social media, saying it "has now closed down the Internet so that peaceful demonstrators cannot communicate. Not good!" Rouhani dismissed Trump's comments. "This man who today in America wants to sympathise with our people has forgotten that a few months ago he called the nation of Iran terrorist." "This person whose whole being is against the nation of Iran has no right to feel pity for the people of Iran." 200 arrests in Tehran Two hundred people were reported to have been arrested in Saturday night's unrest in Tehran, and officials confirmed two people had been killed in the small western town of Dorud. In an apparent attempt to stave off more unrest, the authorities began blocking access to photo sharing and online messaging services on mobile phones, including Telegram, which the government accused of being used to foment violence, local media and Telegram's CEO said. Conservative news agency Fars said Tehran shops had closed on Sunday "for fear of damage to their shops by rioters." After initial silence, state media has shown footage of unrest, focusing on young men violently targeting banks and vehicles, an attack on a town hall in Tehran, and images of a man burning the Iranian flag. "Those who damage public property, disrupt order and break the law must be responsible for their behaviour and pay the price," Interior Minister Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli said on state television. "The spreading of violence, fear and terror will definitely be confronted," he added. There have been reminders of the continued support for the regime among conservative sections of society, with pro-regime students holding another day of demonstrations at the University of Tehran. They had outnumbered protesters at the university on Saturday. Dozens arrested Rouhani came to power in 2013 promising to mend the economy and ease social tensions, but anger over high living costs and a 12-percent unemployment rate have left many feeling that progress is too slow. Unemployment is particularly high among young people, who are generally considered less deferential to authority. "Rouhani has run an austerity budget since 2013 with the idea that it's a tough but necessary pill to swallow to manage inflation and currency problems and try to improve Iran's attractiveness for investment," said Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder of the Europe-Iran Forum. "But choosing years of austerity immediately after a very tough period of sanctions is bound to test people's patience," he told AFP. The total number of arrests from the protests around the country remained unclear. An official in Arak, around 300 kilometres (190 miles) southwest of Tehran, said 80 people had been detained there overnight. Police have so far taken a relatively soft approach to the unrest. They deny shooting the two men killed in Dorud, and information has been hard to obtain amid a near-total media blackout. The authorities have blamed external forces for fomenting violence, saying the majority of social media reports were emanating from regional rival Saudi Arabia or exile groups based in Europe. Since the ruthless repression of the 2009 protests against a disputed presidential election that gave hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term, many middle-class Iranians have abandoned hope of securing change from the streets. But low-level strikes and demonstrations have continued, with groups such as bus drivers, teachers and factory workers regularly protesting against unpaid wages and poor conditions.

Iran's Rouhani rejects violence but vows 'space for criticism'

Iran&#39;s interior minister warned Sunday that &quot;violence, fear and terror&quot; will be confronted after a third night of protests against the regime.

&quot;Those who damage public property, disrupt the order and break the law must be responsible for their behaviour and pay the price,&quot; Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli said on state television.

&quot;The spreading of violence, fear and terror will definitely be confronted. The vigilance and intelligence of people has always led any plot to fail,&quot; he said.

Protests continued for a third night on Saturday, with thousands marching across many towns and cities and reports of attacks on municipal buildings.

Iran's interior minister warned Sunday that 'violence, fear and terror' will be confronted after a third night of protests against the regime

Iran's interior minister warned Sunday that "violence, fear and terror" will be confronted after a third night of protests against the regime. "Those who damage public property, disrupt the order and break the law must be responsible for their behaviour and pay the price," Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli said on state television. "The spreading of violence, fear and terror will definitely be confronted. The vigilance and intelligence of people has always led any plot to fail," he said. Protests continued for a third night on Saturday, with thousands marching across many towns and cities and reports of attacks on municipal buildings.

Iran interior minister warns government 'will confront' disorder

An official in Tehran said on Sunday that 200 people were arrested during the previous night&#39;s <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/iran-said-protesters-should-pay-a-high-price-if-they-break-the-law-28170">protests in the Iranian capital</a>, the semi-official ILNA news agency reported.

&quot;These individuals are now with the judiciary and some others have been freed out of clemency,&quot; Ali Asghar Nasserbakht, a security deputy for Tehran&#39;s governor, told ILNA.

He said 40 of those arrested were &quot;leaders&quot; and that their protests had not been related to the economy.

&quot;Some opposition groups from abroad make our youth emotional,&quot; he said.

Several hundred people <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/iran-government-restricts-social-media-on-mobiles-28187">protested around the University of Tehran</a> on Saturday, and there were reports of vandalism during the night, including an attack on a town hall.

The protests in Tehran appear to be smaller than many of those seen in towns and cities around the country since Thursday, where there have been few reports about the number of arrests.

Forty of those arrested were "leaders" and that their protests had not been related to the economy

An official in Tehran said on Sunday that 200 people were arrested during the previous night's protests in the Iranian capital, the semi-official ILNA news agency reported. "These individuals are now with the judiciary and some others have been freed out of clemency," Ali Asghar Nasserbakht, a security deputy for Tehran's governor, told ILNA. He said 40 of those arrested were "leaders" and that their protests had not been related to the economy. "Some opposition groups from abroad make our youth emotional," he said. Several hundred people protested around the University of Tehran on Saturday, and there were reports of vandalism during the night, including an attack on a town hall. The protests in Tehran appear to be smaller than many of those seen in towns and cities around the country since Thursday, where there have been few reports about the number of arrests.

200 arrested during Saturday protests in Tehran

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajnikanth-announces-entry-in-politics-28150">Rajnikanth announces entry in politics</a>

Tamil superstar Rajnikanth today announced his much-awaited entry into politics.

The legendary Tamil actor, who has a cult status in Tamil Nadu, said he will form his own political party in the next assembly elections and contest all constituencies in Tamil Nadu.

&quot;My political entry is definite. In next assembly elections I will form a party and will contest all constituencies in Tamil Nadu,&quot; Rajinikanth said.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-at-least-2-injured-as-terrorists-attack-crpf-camp-in-pulwama-28143">J&amp;K: 1 soldier killed as terrorists attack CRPF camp in Pulwama</a>

One soldier of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was killed and two others injured after two-three terrorists stormed a CRPF training center in Awantipora town in Kashmir&#39;s Pulwama district.

The terrorists first lobbed grenades and then began firing to enter the center, ANI reported.

The encounter is still going on.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-fumes-after-hardik-asks-nitin-patel-to-join-congress-28141">BJP fumes after Hardik asks Nitin Patel to join Congress</a>

The BJP rejected firebrand Patidar leader Hardik Patel&#39;s proposal saying that their party leaders are loyal and cannot be lured by anyone.&nbsp;

This comes following Patel&#39;s offer to Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel to quit BJP along with 10 MLA&#39;s and join Congress for a more deserving position.&nbsp;

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said that Hardik&#39;s statement should not be given attention as &quot;he is fishing in troubled waters&quot;.

BJP leader Murlidhar Rao also slammed Hardik and said that BJP is party of loyal and honest leaders unlike Congress.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-cuts-proposed-on-padmavati-only-5-modifications-says-central-board-of-filmcertification-28132">Padmavati: No cuts proposed, only 5 modifications, clarifies Prasoon Joshi</a>

The CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi has clarified that they had suggested only 5 modifications and &quot;no cuts&quot; in Sanjay Leela Bhansali&#39;s period drama Padmavati. The modifications include changing the disclaimer clearly to one that does not claim historical accuracy, changing the title to &quot;Padmavat&quot; from &quot;Padmavati&quot;, modifications in the song &quot;Ghoomar&quot;, modifying the incorrect/misleading reference to historical place and adding a disclaimer that the film, in no manner, subscribes to the practice of Sati and doesn&#39;t seek to glorify it.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/3-reportedly-killed-in-ongoing-protests-in-iran-government-blocks-internet-28144">3 reportedly killed in ongoing protests in Iran, </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/3-reportedly-killed-in-ongoing-protests-in-iran-government-blocks-internet-28144">government</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/3-reportedly-killed-in-ongoing-protests-in-iran-government-blocks-internet-28144"> blocks internet</a>

At least three Iranian protestors were reportedly shot dead by Iran&#39;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Saturday night in the ongoing protests.

There was no immediate confirmation of the incident, which reportedly took place in Doroud, in the Lorestan province, media reports said. &nbsp;

Demonstrators attacked a town hall in the Iranian capital Saturday as protests spilled into a third night despite government warnings against any further &quot;illegal gatherings&quot; and moves to cut off the internet on mobiles.

Rajnikanth announces entry in politics Tamil superstar Rajnikanth today announced his much-awaited entry into politics. The legendary Tamil actor, who has a cult status in Tamil Nadu, said he will form his own political party in the next assembly elections and contest all constituencies in Tamil Nadu. "My political entry is definite. In next assembly elections I will form a party and will contest all constituencies in Tamil Nadu," Rajinikanth said. J&K: 1 soldier killed as terrorists attack CRPF camp in Pulwama One soldier of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was killed and two others injured after two-three terrorists stormed a CRPF training center in Awantipora town in Kashmir's Pulwama district. The terrorists first lobbed grenades and then began firing to enter the center, ANI reported. The encounter is still going on. BJP fumes after Hardik asks Nitin Patel to join Congress The BJP rejected firebrand Patidar leader Hardik Patel's proposal saying that their party leaders are loyal and cannot be lured by anyone. This comes following Patel's offer to Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel to quit BJP along with 10 MLA's and join Congress for a more deserving position. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said that Hardik's statement should not be given attention as "he is fishing in troubled waters". BJP leader Murlidhar Rao also slammed Hardik and said that BJP is party of loyal and honest leaders unlike Congress. Padmavati: No cuts proposed, only 5 modifications, clarifies Prasoon Joshi The CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi has clarified that they had suggested only 5 modifications and "no cuts" in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama Padmavati. The modifications include changing the disclaimer clearly to one that does not claim historical accuracy, changing the title to "Padmavat" from "Padmavati", modifications in the song "Ghoomar", modifying the incorrect/misleading reference to historical place and adding a disclaimer that the film, in no manner, subscribes to the practice of Sati and doesn't seek to glorify it. 3 reportedly killed in ongoing protests in Iran, government blocks internet At least three Iranian protestors were reportedly shot dead by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Saturday night in the ongoing protests. There was no immediate confirmation of the incident, which reportedly took place in Doroud, in the Lorestan province, media reports said. Demonstrators attacked a town hall in the Iranian capital Saturday as protests spilled into a third night despite government warnings against any further "illegal gatherings" and moves to cut off the internet on mobiles.

WION morning news brief, December 31, 2017

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