Iran protests enter day nine as judiciary chief warns of 'no leniency'

Protests continued on Monday for the ninth consecutive day with clashes reported in central Tehran and security forces deployed in large numbers in several parts of the capital to disperse the protesters.

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States was watching events in Iran very closely and warned that Washington would respond forcefully if Iranian authorities began killing people.

At least 19 protesters and one member of security forces have been killed during eight days of demonstrations in Iran that have spread to 222 locations nationwide, with rallies reported in 78 cities across 26 provinces, HRANA reported.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has a back-up plan to flee Iran for Moscow with a close circle of up to 20 aides and family should unrest intensify and security forces desert or fail to suppress the protests, The Times reported on Sunday.

Overnight protests intensified across dozens of cities, with security forces responding with live fire, arrests and heavy deployments. Universities, bazaars and provincial cities remained central to the unrest.

The western city of Malekshahi emerged as one of the deadliest flashpoints so far, where at least five protesters were killed and nearly 30 others injured after security forces opened fire on them on Saturday night.