Iran sees biggest protests since 2009 as economic hardships bite
Iran is seeing its largest protests since 2009. They began over economic grievances but have taken on a political dimension, resulting in more than a dozen deaths and hundreds of arrests. Police stations have been attacked and  security forces are struggling to contain the uprisings. Iran is a major OPEC member and regional power but there is increasing frustration over its involvement in Syria and Iraq as it battles for regional influence to rival Saudi Arabia. Iranians want the government to create jobs -- youth unemployment reached 28.8% in 2017 -- rather than get involved in costly proxy wars.

Tens of thousands of people have protested across the country since 28 December against the Islamic Republic's government and clerical elite.

Police in the centre of Tehran fired water cannons to try to disperse demonstrators, according to pictures on social media. Two protesters were reportedly killed in firing by Iranian security forces on 30 December

Demonstrations turned violent in Shahin Shahr in central Iran. Videos showed protesters attacking the police, turning over a car and setting it on fire. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the footage.

There were also reports of demonstrations in the western cities of Sanandaj and Kermanshah as well as Chabahar in the southeast and Ilam and Izeh in the southwest.