Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said his people have the right to protest and criticize the government, in his first public response to nationwide anti-establishment protests that have stretched into a fourth day. On Saturday, as a counter to the protests, state-sponsored rallies took place around the country.
Iran Protests: Dec. 31, 2017

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People protest in Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017, in this picture obtained from social media.

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Protesters in Tehran's Valiasr avenue overturned a police car.

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Opponents of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hold a protest outside the Iranian embassy in west London, Dec. 31, 2017.

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In this photo taken by an individual not employed by the Associated Press and obtained by the AP outside Iran, university students attend a protest inside Tehran University while a smoke grenade is thrown by anti-riot Iranian police, in Tehran, Dec. 30, 2017.