Iran says it has arrested leaders of major protests

Ali Larijani, a member of the Shiite Islamic regime's National Security Council, told regime-loyal Press TV that Iran has "shown strong resistance when its national identity has been threatened."

He said the "enemy" has tried to turn peaceful protests and public dissatisfaction with current economic difficulties into street violence, and he blamed US President Donald Trump, whom he said is encouraging the violence.

Thousands of protesters have been killed in recent weeks of protests, according to exile organizations trying to keep records. Such figures are difficult to verify because the internet was shut down when the protests took hold.