Iran has moved to limit social media networks which were used to organise 4 days of anti-establishment protests.

The “momentary” restrictions on the apps Telegram and Instagram have been imposed to “preserve tranquillity”, state information company Irib studies.

The protests have been the most important present of dissent since large rallies in 2009.

President Hassan Rouhani has mentioned Iranians have the correct to protest, however not trigger dysfunction.

The protests started within the north-east as an outcry in opposition to financial hardship and rising costs, however turned political in lots of locations, with slogans chanted in opposition to Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mr Rouhani and Iran’s interventionist overseas coverage within the area.

In his first public feedback because the demonstrations broke out, the Iranian president, talking at a cupboard assembly, mentioned that residents have been “utterly free to make criticism and even protests”.

However he added that the federal government wouldn’t tolerate any motion that created “social dysfunction”, the Iranian College students Information Company reported.

After violence flared in lots of locations on Saturday, it’s unclear what number of demonstrations are occurring on Sunday. Small crowds have gathered in Tehran and police have used water cannon to disperse protesters at a serious intersection – as captured in a video obtained by BBC Persian.

Why are these social networks being restricted?

In a tightly managed media setting, a lot of the details about the demonstrations has emerged by way of social media, and platforms like Telegram and Instagram have been used extensively by protesters.

Telegram specifically could be very common in Iran, with greater than 50% of the nation’s 80m inhabitants mentioned to be lively on the app.

The corporate’s CEO Pavel Durov tweeted that Iranian authorities took motion after his firm refused to close down “peacefully protesting channels”.

Mr Durov explained in a Telegram post main foreign-based opposition channel, Amadnews, was blocked on Saturday by Telegram after it known as for violence in opposition to police.

He mentioned a brand new “peaceable channel” – entry to which is now being restricted – was arrange for a whole bunch of hundreds of their subscribers.

Iranian Communications Minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi had earlier accused channels like Amadnews of selling “armed rebellion and social unrest”, together with the usage of petrol bombs.

The place will the protests lead?

Evaluation by Kasra Naji, BBC Persian

There may be widespread and seething discontent in Iran the place repression is pervasive and financial hardship is getting worse – one BBC Persian investigation has discovered that on common Iranians have develop into 15% poorer previously 10 years.

Protests have remained confined to comparatively small pockets of largely younger male demonstrators who’re demanding the overthrow of the clerical regime.

They’ve unfold to small cities all through the nation and have the potential to develop in dimension.

However there isn’t a apparent management. Opposition figures have lengthy been silenced or despatched into exile.

Even in exile, there isn’t a one opposition determine that instructions a big following. Some protesters have been calling for the return of the monarchy and the previous shah’s son, Reza Pahlavi, who lives in exile in america, has issued a press release supporting the demonstrations. However there are indicators that he’s as a lot at midnight about the place these protests are going as anybody else.

BBC Persian, which broadcasts on TV, on radio and on-line from London, is banned in Iran – the place workers and their households routinely face harassment and questioning from the authorities.

Has there been violence?

There have been outbreaks of clashes in a number of cities on Saturday and two protesters died of gunshot wounds within the western metropolis of Dorud.

The authorities mentioned safety forces didn’t open fireplace on demonstrators, and blamed the deaths as a substitute on Sunni Muslim extremists and overseas powers.

Correspondents say the reference to overseas intelligence businesses was meant to imply Saudi Arabia.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned anti-government protesters they are going to face the nation’s “iron fist” if political unrest continues. Scores of persons are reported to have been arrested in latest days, together with 200 in Tehran on Saturday evening.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) is a strong power with ties to the nation’s supreme chief, and is devoted to preserving the nation’s Islamic system.

Brig-Gen Esmail Kowsari informed the Isna information company: “If individuals got here into the streets over excessive costs, they need to not have chanted these slogans and burned public property and automobiles.”

Iran’s inside minister has additionally warned the general public that protesters shall be held accountable.

What has been the response, at residence and overseas?

The Iranian authorities are blaming anti-revolutionaries and brokers of overseas powers for the outbreak of protests.

However politicians have additionally weighed in. Reformists are likely to stress individuals’s proper to freedom of expression, whereas conservatives spotlight financial issues and accuse a few of making an attempt to hijack the protests and divert consideration from financial issues to political calls for.

The US has led worldwide help for the protesters.

In his latest tweet on the issue, President Donald Trump mentioned that Iranians have been “lastly getting sensible as to how their cash and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism”.

Iran’s overseas ministry known as earlier feedback from Mr Trump and different US officers “opportunistic and deceitful”.

What occurred in 2009?

On Saturday, hundreds of pro-government demonstrators turned out for pre-arranged rallies throughout the nation to mark the eighth anniversary of the suppression of the 2009 road protests.

These mass demonstrations – known as the Inexperienced Motion – have been held by hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters in opposition to the disputed election victory of incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

No less than 30 individuals have been killed and hundreds arrested within the wave of protests, which drew the biggest crowds on Iran because the Islamic Revolution in 1979.