Protests have swept through Iran’s major cities for the third consecutive day, while the police imposed tight security measures in Tehran. IRNA news agency quoted security officials as saying that security forces were deployed in response to calls for demonstrations in the centers of governorates. Protests were renewed in Isfahan, Shiraz, Ahwaz, Arak, Mashhad, Sari, Karaj and Shaheen Shahr, which are among the largest Iranian cities, in response to calls for massive demonstrations in social networks. Demonstrators chanted slogans denouncing the poor economic situation and mismanagement. IRNA quoted senior security officials as warning against “unauthorized and illegal demonstrations.” The agency also confirmed that clashes erupted between police and demonstrators in several areas, adding that information about the arrests was unavailable. The protests broke out in response to a surge in the prices of currency and gold a few days after the announcement of new US sanctions. The government pledged last week to provide basic commodities to the poor, but many emphasized feelings of panic among Iranians as a result of rising US-Iranian tensions. Witnesses said that the security forces fired tear gas and clashed with demonstrators in the center of Isfahan, while police forces and protesters exchanged throwing stones. In Shiraz, demonstrators marched from various areas to the Zend junction, according to eyewitnesses, chanting slogans calling for Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to leave office. AP reported that videos circulated on social media and purporting to have been taken in the town of Gohardasht, a suburb of Karaj, showed dozens of demonstrators in the streets, setting fire to police vehicles and shouting “death to the dictator.” Police responded with tear gas. IRNA reported that all protests had taken place without official permission and were subsequently broken up by police.