Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Footage shows improvised roadblocks and street fires

Ten people have been killed overnight in anti-government protests sweeping Iran, according to state TV.

"In the events of last night, unfortunately a total of about 10 people were killed in several cities," it said. At least 12 people have now died since protests began on Thursday.

On Monday, President Hassan Rouhani said the protests and criticism were an opportunity, not a threat.

He said the country should work together to fix its economic problems.

He said: "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."

Mr Rouhani had previously said that citizens were free to protest, but not violently.

US President Donald Trump continued his war of words with Iran's leaders on Monday, posting a tweet saying the "great Iranian people have been repressed for many years. They are hungry for food and freedom".

Where has the violence happened?

Six of those killed died after shots were fired in the western town of Tuyserkan, 300km (185 miles) south-west of Tehran.

An official in the south-western town of Izeh said two people had died there. The other two people were reportedly killed in clashes in Dorud in Lorestan province.

Police also used tear gas and water cannon overnight to quell a rally in Tehran's Engheleb Square.

Demonstrations were also reported in Kermanshah and Khorramabad in the west, Shahinshahr in the north-west and in the northern city of Zanjan.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Video from the town of Dorud shows a crowd carrying what appears to be a wounded man

State TV said armed protesters had tried to take over some police stations and military bases, but faced serious resistance from security forces.

The demonstrations, which erupted on Thursday in Iran's second city of Mashhad, are the biggest show of dissent seen since the huge rallies of the Green Movement were brutally suppressed in 2009.

Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli-Larijani called for a crackdown on "rioters" and "vandals" on Monday, according to state television.

"Some individuals are exploiting the situation. This is wrong," he said.

How have authorities responded to protests?

Mr Rouhani has acknowledged popular grievances, though he warned that the government would show "no tolerance for those who damage public properties, violate public order and create unrest in the society".

On Monday he said on Twitter that the government needed to pay attention to people's demands on livelihood issues and corruption.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) warned anti-government protesters would face the nation's "iron fist" if political unrest continued.

The IRGC is a powerful force with ties to the country's supreme leader, and is dedicated to preserving the country's Islamic system. Correspondents say it would be a significant escalation were they to become officially involved in policing the protests.

Up to 400 people are reported to have been arrested in recent days, including 200 in Tehran on Saturday night.

And authorities continue to sporadically suspend social media websites they fear will be used to organise protests, including Telegram and Instagram.

State media have now begun broadcasting some footage on the protests, though focuses on young men attacking banks and vehicles or burning the Iranian flag, reported AFP news agency.

On Sunday police used water cannon to disperse protesters at a major intersection, as captured in a video obtained by BBC Persian.

Where will the protests lead?

Analysis by Kasra Naji, BBC Persian

There is widespread and seething discontent in Iran where repression is pervasive and economic hardship is getting worse - one BBC Persian investigation has found that on average Iranians have become 15% poorer in the past 10 years.

Protests have remained confined to relatively small pockets of mostly young male demonstrators who are demanding the overthrow of the clerical regime.

They have spread to small towns throughout the country and have the potential to grow in size.

But there is no obvious leadership. Opposition figures have long been silenced or sent into exile.

Some protesters have been calling for the return of the monarchy and the former shah's son, Reza Pahlavi, who lives in exile in the United States, has issued a statement supporting the demonstrations. But there are signs that he is as much in the dark about where these protests are going as anyone else.

BBC Persian, which broadcasts on TV, on radio and online from London, is banned in Iran - where staff and their families routinely face harassment and questioning from the authorities.

What about Rouhani's war of words with Trump?

Mr Rouhani described the US president as an "enemy of the Iranian nation from the top of his head to his very toes".

He said the "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".

Mr Trump has sent various tweets criticising Iran's leaders since the protests began.

He said Iranians were "finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism".

His tweet on Monday said in capital letters "TIME FOR CHANGE!"

What happened in 2009?

Mass demonstrations - referred to as the Green Movement - were held by millions of opposition supporters against the disputed election victory of incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

At least 30 people were killed and thousands arrested in the wave of protests, which drew the largest crowds in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.</s>Iran protests continue for fifth day, at least 10 killed

DUBAI (Reuters) – Anti-government demonstrations continued for a fifth day in Iran on Monday, after 10 people were killed during the biggest protests since the pro-reform unrest of 2009.</s>Nine more reported dead in Iran as protests enter sixth day</s>At least two people taking part in protests in the southwestern Iranian town of Izeh, 450 kilometers southeast of Tehran, were killed overnight, a local MP told ILNA news agency. This brings to at least four the number of fatalities in the ongoing protests. Thousands of pro- and anti-government demonstrators have taken to the streets across Iran since Thursday. The anti-government protests were prompted mostly by discontent over economic hardship and alleged corruption.</s>At least 12 people have now died since protests began on Thursday. Iranian state television said this morning: “In the events of last night, unfortunately a total of about 10 people were killed in several cities.” Up to 400 people have been arrested as police cracked down on protesters, including 200 in capital city Tehran. Protests continued overnight despite an intervention from President Hassan Rouhani, who acknowledged the dissidents’ grievances but defended his record.

He said citizens are "completely free to express their criticism of the government or stage protests in a way that will lead to the improvement of the country’s conditions", while warning protesters against committing violent acts. Overnight, police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters in central Tehran. Demonstrations were also reported in Kermanshah and Khorramabad in the west of Iran, Shahinshahr in the north west, and Zanjan in the north of the country. President Rouhani is expected to attend an emergency meeting of the Iranian parliament planned for New Year’s Day, as protests continue.

The demonstrations are the biggest show of dissent in Iran since the mass protests of the Green Movement were brutally suppressed in 2009. Then, at least 30 people were killed and thousands arrested during a wave of protests against the disputed reelection of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Today, demonstrators say they are angry about corruption and economic hardship. Frustrations have grown as the country is deeply involved in proxy wars in Syria, Iraq and Yemen in a battle for soft power with rival Saudi Arabia.

Foreign interventions have sparked fury in the country as citizens want their leader to focus on domestic issues rather than squaring up to the Saudis. Although Iran is a major oil producer and a key centre of power in the Middle East, youth unemployment reached 28.8 percent last year. As protests continue, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps has warned anti-government demonstrators they will face an “iron fist” if the unrest is not halted. While president Rouhani said the government would show "no tolerance for those who damage public properties, violate public order and create unrest in society”.</s>Iranian state TV reports that at least 10 died on Sunday as social media users call for further anti-government demonstrations

Iranian students protest at the University of Tehran on 30 December 2017 (AFP)

10 people died on Sunday in Iran amid nationwide protests, the country's state TV said on Monday without elaborating, as messages on social media called for further anti-government demonstrations.

Two were killed on Sunday in the southwestern town of Izeh and several others were injured, ILNA news agency quoted local member of parliament Hedayatollah Khademi as saying.

"I do not know whether yesterday's shooting was done by rally participants or the police and this issue is being investigated," Khademi was quoted as saying.

The state broadcaster said two others died in the small western town of Dorud when they were hit by a fire engine stolen by protesters, and ILNA reported a school for clergy and government buildings were torched in the northwestern town of Takestan.

Two other people were reportedly killed during protests at the weekend which brings the total number of deaths to 12.

Messages on social media urged Iranians to hold rallies in the capital Tehran and 50 other urban centres, many of which have already seen four days of unrest since price protests in the second largest city Mashhad on Thursday turned political.

This was despite Iranian authorities on Sunday blocking access to Instagram and mobile messaging app Telegram, which they accused of fomenting violence during the protests.

Tens of thousands of people have protested across the country against the Islamic Republic's government and clerical elite, prompting authorities to warn of a tough crackdown.

Some called on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to step down and chanted against a government they described as thieves.

Protests continued on Sunday evening even though President Hassan Rouhani appealed for calm. He said Iranians had the right to criticise authorities, but warned of a crackdown against unrest.

The protests are the biggest since 2009 when demonstrators called for the removal of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president after a disputed election result.

"The government will show no tolerance for those who damage public properties, violate public order and create unrest in the society," Rouhani said in remarks carried by state TV.

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 said.

Police have so far taken a relatively soft approach to the unrest.

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.

US President Donald Trump, a fierce critic of Tehran, said the "big protests" showed people "were getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism".

He accused Iran of "numerous violations of human rights", adding it "has now closed down the internet so that peaceful demonstrators cannot communicate. Not good!"

"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," Rouhani said.

The intelligence minister of regional arch-foe Israel on Monday also voiced his backing for the protests.

"I can only wish success to the Iranian people in the struggle for freedom and democracy," Israeli Intelligence Minister Israel Katz said in an Army Radio interview.

"If the people succeed in achieving freedom and democracy, many of the threats on Israel and the entire region today will disappear."

Events in Iran have also sparked anti-government protests outside embassies across the world, including in Washington and London.</s>Ten people have been killed overnight in anti-government protests sweeping Iran, according to state TV.

“In the events of last night, unfortunately a total of about 10 people were killed in several cities,” it said. At least 12 people have now died since protests began on Thursday.

On Monday, President Hassan Rouhani said the protests and criticism were an opportunity, not a threat.

He said the country should work together to fix its economic problems.

He said: “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.”

Mr Rouhani had previously said that citizens were free to protest, but not violently.</s>9 more people killed, 100 arrested overnight as nationwide protests in Iran continue – local media</s>DUBAI — Ten people were killed during street protests in...</s>Ten people have been killed overnight in anti-government protests sweeping Iran, according to state TV.

“In the events of last night, unfortunately a total of about 10 people were killed in several cities,” it said. At least 12 people have now died since protests began on Thursday.

The unrest continued despite a call for calm from President Hassan Rouhani.

In his first intervention, President Rouhani warned on Sunday that violence would not be tolerated.

Mr Rouhani acknowledged grievances over Iran’s economic situation, a lack of transparency and corruption, but defended his record.

The Iranian president said that citizens were “completely free to express their criticism of the government or stage protests… in a way that would lead to the improvement of the country’s conditions” but warned against violent acts.

Nevertheless, protests continued overnight. Police used tear gas and water cannon to quell a rally in Tehran’s Engheleb Square and demonstrations were reported in Kermanshah and Khorramabad in the west, Shahinshahr in the north west and the northern city of Zanjan.

The demonstrations, which erupted on Thursday in Iran’s second city of Mashhad, are the biggest show of dissent seen since the huge rallies of the Green Movement were brutally suppressed in 2009.

Mass demonstrations – referred to as the Green Movement – were held by millions of opposition supporters against the disputed election victory of incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

At least 30 people were killed and thousands arrested in the wave of protests, which drew the largest crowds in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Ten people die at the protests overnight, with twelve deaths total so far as the protests enter their fifth day.