Iran president urges calm amid protests

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday called on security forces to exercise restraint in response to ongoing economic protests, emphasising the need to distinguish between peaceful demonstrators and armed rioters. The announcement came amid rising tensions across Iranian cities, with the unrest now entering its 11th day.

In a video released by the news agency Mehr following a cabinet meeting, Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah said Pezeshkian "ordered that no security measures be taken against the demonstrators." He added: "Those who carry firearms, knives and machetes and who attack police stations and military sites are rioters, and we must distinguish protesters from rioters."

Security forces have reportedly killed at least 27 protesters, including five minors, according to the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR). Official Iranian media have confirmed 15 deaths, including members of the security forces, and reported a policeman shot dead on Tuesday.

Clashes continued in southwest Iran on Wednesday, where Fars news agency reported two people were killed and 30 wounded in Lordergan.

The agency said shopkeepers had been protesting when rioters began throwing stones at police, with some individuals firing military and hunting weapons.

In Bojnurd, northeastern Iran, rioters allegedly threw stones at a mosque and set fire to a store selling religious books, Tasnim news agency reported.

General Amir Hatami, commander of the Iranian army, warned that Tehran would respond robustly to external threats. Fars reported Hatami's statement: "If the enemy makes a mistake, Iran's response will be more robust than during last June's 12-day war with Israel." In recent days, US President Donald Trump warned of potential intervention if demonstrators were harmed, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed solidarity with the protests.

The June conflict saw unprecedented Israeli attacks on Iranian military and nuclear facilities, followed by US strikes on three major nuclear sites.

The current wave of protests began on December 28 with a strike by traders at a Tehran mobile phone market.