The protests are diffuse and largely leaderless, and the president's efforts at mediation — and the killings and arrests by security forces — have not convinced the demonstrators to stay off the streets.

As Iran is gripped by new protests, many people there are focused on the U.S. raid in Venezuela and wonder whether the same could occur in Tehran.

Tehran also increasingly cut back its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, as tensions increased over its nuclear program in recent years. The IAEA’s director-general has warned Iran could build as many as 10 nuclear bombs, should it decide to weaponize its program.

At least 29 protesters have been killed and more than 1,200 people have been detained in nine days of anti-government protests in Iran, according to activits.

US shifts Iran policy as Trump administration revives aggressive messaging toward Tehran, contrasting sharply with previous diplomatic approaches.

At least 25 people have been killed in Iran during the first nine days of protests that started in the bazaar of Tehran over the plunging value of the currency and soaring inflation, according to rights groups.

More than 1,200 people have also been arrested during the unrest, activists say, which began 10 days ago and has spread to most of Iran's provinces.

Iran's efforts to quell a wave of anti-government protests have been complicated by Donald Trump's threat to intervene on their side, a warning firmly underlined by the subsequent U.S. capture of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro,