Three days of demonstrations erupted over falling living standards.

But a Revolutionary Guards commander said the protests had degenerated into people chanting political slogans and burning public property.

They are the biggest show of dissent since huge pro-reform rallies in 2009. There are reports of two deaths.

There were calls for the removal or death of Iran’s Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the cities of Khoramabad, Zanjan and Ahvaz.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutions Guards Corp is a powerful force with ties to the country’s supreme leader, and is dedicated to preserving the country’s Islamic system.

Brigadier-General Esmail Kowsari told the ISNA news agency: “If people came into the streets over high prices, they should not have chanted those slogans and burned public property and cars.”

Iran’s interior minister has also warned the public that protesters will be held accountable.

“Those who damage public property, disrupt order and break the law must be responsible for their behaviour and pay the price,” Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli said.

“The spreading of violence, fear and terror will definitely be confronted.”

What has been happening?

Protests began in the north-eastern city of Mashhad on Thursday and spread to other major cities on Friday.

A small demonstration in Tehran grew to several thousand people on Saturday, and students clashed with police. The protests also became violent in several other towns.

Among the recent events across Iran:

• Two people were reported dead in Dorud, after apparently being shot
• In Abhar, demonstrators set fire to large banners bearing the picture of the supreme leader
• In Arak, protesters reportedly set fire to the local headquarters of the pro-government Basij militia
• In Mashhad, protesters burned police motorcycles in a confrontation caught on video
• The CEO of popular mobile messaging app Telegram said an Iranian account had been suspended for calling for attacks on police
• There are numerous reports of people losing internet access on their mobile phones

BBC Persian correspondent Kasra Naji said a common factor in all locations has been protesters’ demand for an end to clerical rule in Iran.

There is also anger at Iran’s interventions abroad. In Mashhad, some chanted “not Gaza, not Lebanon, my life for Iran”, a reference to what protesters say is the administration’s focus on foreign rather than domestic issues.

Iran is a key provider of military support to the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. It is also accused of providing arms to Houthi rebels fighting a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, which it denies, and is an ally of Lebanon’s powerful Shia movement Hezbollah.

What has been the response, at home and abroad?

The Iranian authorities are blaming anti-revolutionaries and agents of foreign powers for the outbreak.

Also on Saturday, thousands of pro-government demonstrators turned out for pre-arranged rallies to mark the eighth anniversary of the suppression of the 2009 street protests.

The US has led international support for the protesters.

President Donald Trump tweeted: “Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice. The world is watching!”

Iran’s foreign ministry called earlier comments from Mr Trump and other US officials “opportunistic and deceitful”.

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Source: BBC

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The launch of the Khoramshahr missile, which has a range of 2,000 km (1,242 miles), was shown on state TV. It is unclear when the test took place.

At the UN on Tuesday, Mr Trump criticised Iran’s missile programme and the 2015 nuclear deal with the country.

On Friday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran would increase its military power “as a deterrent”.

The Khoramshahr missile was first displayed at a military parade on Friday in Tehran. It is capable of carrying multiple warheads, Iranian media report.

Iran’s Defence Minister, Gen Amir Hatami, outlined the missile’s “unique specifications”.

“The ability to evade the enemy’s air defence line and to be guided from the moment of launch until the target is hit turns Khoramshahr into a tactical missile,” he said.

Iran would “not seek permission from any country for producing various kinds of missile”, he added.

The US announced fresh sanctions on Iran in July over its ballistic missile programme and what it said was Iran’s support for terror organisations.

It also imposed sanctions on Iran after a ballistic missile test in January. It says such launches violate the spirit of the 2015 agreement between Iran and six world powers to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Tehran insists its missile programme does not contravene the agreement. It says the missiles are not meant to carry nuclear warheads.

At the UN General Assembly this week, the US and Iranian leaders traded barbs.

r Trump included Iran among a “small group of rogue regimes”, said its government was bent on “death and destruction” and said the nuclear agreement was an “embarrassment” to the US.

Mr Rouhani responded by referring to a “rogue newcomer to international politics” and deplored the US leader’s “ignorant, absurd and hateful rhetoric”.

He said his country would “not be the first” to violate the deal, which Mr Trump has threatened to pull out of despite other signatories and international monitors saying Iran has stuck by its terms.

On Wednesday, Mr Trump said he had already made up his mind but would not yet reveal his decision.

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Source: BBC

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