2017–18 Iranian protests

Iran's supreme leader on Tuesday ruled out the holding of popular referendums on state policies.

Iran faced calls for a referendum on the Islamic Republic itself during anti-government protests last year, and a moderate former president recently suggested such votes should be held to decide major policies as a way of reducing divisions.

Iran's judiciary raised the death toll Monday in a blaze at Tehran's notorious Evin prison, saying that at least eight prisoners were killed as protests continue nationwide.

Details still remain scarce over the fire at Evin prison, which broke out on Saturday night as nationwide anti-government protests triggered by the death of a young woman in police custody entered a fifth week.

Iranians were taking to the streets of Tehran and other cities and towns across the country on Feb. 11 for rallies and nationwide celebrations marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran said on Jan. 14 it had arrested people accused of a role in shooting down a Ukrainian airliner and had also detained 30 people involved in protests that have swept the nation for four days since the military belatedly admitted its error.

U.S. President Donald Trump continued to praise Iranian protesters, this time for their reluctance to trample an American flag in a video footage that went viral a day earlier.

Iranian protesters gathered for a third day on Jan. 13 in the capital amid public anger over the military's admission that it had shot down a civilian airliner last week, videos from inside Iran posted on social media showed.

It was not immediately possible to authenticate the video.

Iranian protesters and newspapers piled pressure on the country's leadership and riot police stepped up their presence in Tehran on Jan. 12 after Iran's military admitted that it had mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner.

Amnesty International said on Dec. 16 that at least 304 people were killed in last month's anti-government protests in Iran, a significantly higher number than what the rights group had reported previously.

An Iranian intelligence official has threatened to crack down on leaders of protests against a recent government decision to hike fuel prices.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Nov. 17 backed gasoline price increases that have sparked protests across Iran, blaming opponents of the Islamic Republic and foreign enemies for "sabotage", state television reported.