Five people killed during Sunday riots in Hamadan, Khuzestan: Iranian officials

Hamadan province's deputy for political and security affairs, Seyyed Saeed Shahrokhi, said on Monday that three people were killed during the riots in the city on Sunday. "Unfortunately, three people lost their lives following or during the destruction of public property in the city Tuyserkan," he said.
 
"Protests held in Izeh on Sunday night resulted in the deaths of two people," said Izeh's parliamentary representative Hedayatollah Khademei. He added that the deaths were still being investigated, and that conditions in the city had returned to normal.
 
On Sunday, a Lorestan provincial official said two people were killed during a protest rally in a western Iranian city on Saturday, adding that Takfiri groups and foreign intelligence services appear to be behind the killings. 
 
Since Thursday, groups of Iranian protesters have staged demonstrations in several cities to voice their anger over rising prices and economic conditions. Sporadic violence has erupted during the protests, causing a number of casualties.
 
There are various conflicting reports about the number of casualties and the extent of damage. According to some unverified reports, at least 10 people, including a member of the security forces, have been killed in the violence.
 
Also on Monday, Iran's Intelligence Ministry announced that it has identified and arrested some of the agents behind riots. According to the ministry's statement, some of the peaceful gatherings held in recent days in order to express public demands had turned violent "due to the presence of suspicious and aggressive elements" who damaged public property and caused casualties.
 
Earlier in the day, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani reiterated that the Iranian people are completely free to express their criticism of the government or stage protests according to the Constitution and citizenship rights, noting that the people would deal with a "small and minority group" of rioters and lawbreakers exploiting the protests as an excuse to chant slogans in violation of the law and people's demands, insult the sanctities and values of the Islamic Revolution, and damage public property.
 
"The enemy will not remain silent vis-à-vis the nation's progress and greatness, but there are also deceived people among the protesters who have rightful demands," Rouhani said.