In Photos: Protests in Iran Over the Country’s Weak Economy

Move by the Iran government to shut down social media has limited the ability of journalists to cover the unrest.

A wave of economic protests has challenged Iran’s government.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

Iran has seen its largest anti-government protests since the disputed presidential election in 2009, with thousands taking to the streets in several cities in recent days. Travel restrictions and moves by the government to shut down social media networks have limited the ability of journalists to cover the ongoing unrest, which Iranian state television said has killed 21 people.

Here is what it looks like in the Iranian capital:

A university student attends a protest inside Tehran University, while a smoke grenade is thrown by an anti-riot Iranian police, in Tehran, Iran.

Protests across Iran saw their most violent night as "armed protesters" tried to overrun military bases and police stations before security forces repelled them, killing several people, Iranian state television said on Monday.

Anti-riot Iranian police prevent university students to join other protesters over Iran’s weak economy, in Tehran, Iran.

The demonstrations, the largest to strike Iran since its disputed 2009 presidential election, have seen five days of unrest across the country and a death toll of at least 13 with the slaying of a police officer announced late on Monday.

Iranian protesters chant slogans at a rally in Tehran, Iran.

University students run away from stones thrown by the police during the anti-government protest inside Tehran University.

The protests began on Thursday in Mashhad over Iran's weak economy, and a jump in food prices and have expanded to several cities, with some protesters chanting against the government and the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hundreds of people have been arrested.

University students attend a protest inside Tehran University.

Visuals from the protest in Tehran, Iran on 30 December 2017.

On Sunday, Iran blocked access to Instagram and the popular messaging app Telegram used by activists to organise and publicise protests.

University students attend a protest inside Tehran University while a smoke grenade is thrown by anti-riot Iranian police.

While the protests have sparked clashes, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and its affiliates have not intervened as they have in other unauthorised demonstrations since the 2009 election.

Iranian protesters hold anti-Israeli placards at a rally in Tehran, Iran.

Visuals inside the Tehran University, students protesting against the government.

The protests also spread outside Iran. Iranians in different parts of the world expressed dissatisfaction over Iran's weak economy. In Tehran on Monday, however, the streets were calm, though a heavy police presence was noticeable.

Opponents of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hold a protest outside the Iranian embassy in west London.

(With inputs from PTI, AP and Reuters)

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