Iran's government warns against 'illegal' gatherings after protests

Iran's government warned citizens Saturday against holding "illegal" public gatherings, following two days of rare anti-government protests which spread to a number of cities.

The protests -- described as the largest public display of discontent since the 2009 Green Movement in Iran -- have emerged against a backdrop of rising food and gasoline prices.
Three students were arrested in unrest outside Tehran University on Saturday, an official with the Ministry of Science told Iran's semi-official Iran Labor News Agency, ILNA. Two have since been released, it said.
The demonstrations began Thursday in the northeastern city of Mashhad before spreading to cities across the nation on Friday. They included Tehran, Kermanshah, Arak, Qazvin, Khorramabad, Karaj and Sabzevar, according to First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri, cited by official news agency IRNA. Iranian media outlets reported a number of arrests.
A still frame from a YouTube video published on Friday, December 29 purporting to show a protest in Mashhad, Iran. CNN cannot independently confirm its authenticity.
A still frame from a YouTube video published on Friday, December 29 purporting to show a protest in Mashhad, Iran. CNN cannot independently confirm its authenticity.
The unrest has prompted verbal sparring between Iran and the United States, which on Friday urged Tehran to respect protesters' rights and warned that the "world is watching."

The unrest has prompted verbal sparring between Iran and the United States, which on Friday urged Tehran to respect protesters' rights and warned that the "world is watching."
An Iranian vice president said on Saturday the government would work harder to resolve economic hardships, according to semi-official news agency FARS, two days after rare anti-government protests spread to a number of cities.
First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri made the remarks without acknowledging the protests, adding that some have used economic issues as a "pretext" to hurt the government, FARS reported.
Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli warned Saturday that any groups wishing to congregate must file an official request and be granted permission.
"The police and security forces have tried to manage conditions. We have received reports of calls to gather, cyber and social media based, and such calls and any gatherings resulting therefrom, are certainly illegal," he said.
Meanwhile, crowds of government supporters joined official demonstrations held across the country on Saturday, state media reported.
Angry chants
Protesters have been heard on videos distributed on social media as chanting "Death to Rouhani," a reference to Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, who was reelected earlier this year, but CNN cannot independently verify the authenticity of the footage.