FILE - photo, released by official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Hassan Rouhani speaks in a cabinet meeting in Tehran, Iran.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Monday all officials can be criticized and that protesters in Iran are upset about more than economic issues.
Rouhani also called for the lifting of bans on social media.
As protests broke out nearly two weeks ago, the government instituted restrictions on messaging apps, including Instagram and Telegram. Authorities lifted the Instagram ban on Sunday, but Telegram remained blocked.
Hamid Shahriari, Iran's deputy judiciary head, said Monday that all of the leading figures of "recent riots" have been arrested and will face harsh punishment.
In Photos: Iran Protests
Iran Protests: Dec. 31, 2017
1/22People protest in Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017, in this picture obtained from social media.
2/22Protesters in Tehran's Valiasr avenue overturned a police car.
3/22Opponents of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hold a protest outside the Iranian embassy in west London, Dec. 31, 2017.
4/22In 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.
5/22A university student attends a protest inside Tehran University while a smoke grenade is thrown by anti-riot Iranian police, in Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017. A wave of spontaneous protests over Iran's weak economy swept into Tehran Saturday, with college students and others chanting against the government just hours after hard-liners held their own rally in support of the clerical establishment.
6/22Iranian students run for cover from tear gas at the University of Tehran during a demonstration driven by anger over economic problems, in the capital Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017.
7/22Police vehicles are seen during a protest near the university of Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017, in this picture obtained from social media.
8/22Iranian students scuffle with police at the University of Tehran during a demonstration driven by anger over economic problems, in the capital Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017.
9/22People protest near the University of Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017, in this photo obtained from social media.
10/22People protest in Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017, in in this picture obtained from social media.
11/22People protest in Tehran, Iran Dec. 30, 2017, in this still image from a video obtained by Reuters.
12/22In this Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017 file 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 anti-riot Iranian police prevent them to join other protesters, in Tehran, Iran.
13/22Opponents of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hold a protest outside the Iranian embassy in west London, Dec. 31, 2017.
14/22Opponents of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hold a protest outside the Iranian embassy in west London, Dec. 31, 2017.
15/22This photo taken by an individual not employed by the Associated Press and obtained by the AP outside Iran, demonstrators attend a protest over Iran's weak economy, in Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017.
16/22In this photo taken by an individual not employed by the Associated Press and obtained by the AP outside of Iran, people are affected by tear gas fired by anti-riot Iranian police to disperse demonstrators in a protest over Iran's weak economy, in Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017.
17/22Iranians chant slogans as they march in support of the government near the Imam Khomeini grand mosque in the capital Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017.
18/22Iranians gather in support of the government at the Imam Khomeini grand mosque in the capital Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017.
19/22Iranians chant slogans as they march in support of the government near the Imam Khomeini grand mosque in the capital Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017.
20/22Iranians chant slogans as they march in support of the government near the Imam Khomeini grand mosque in the capital Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017. Tens of thousands of regime supporters marched in cities across Iran in a show of strength for the regime after two days of angry protests directed against the country's religious rulers.
21/22Iranian protesters chant slogans at a rally in Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017. Iranian hard-liners rallied Saturday to support the country's supreme leader and clerically overseen government as spontaneous protests sparked by anger over the country's ailing economy roiled major cities in the Islamic Republic.
22/22Iranian protesters chant slogans at a rally in Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30, 2017. Iranian hard-liners rallied Saturday to support the country's supreme leader and clerically overseen government as spontaneous protests sparked by anger over the country's ailing economy roiled major cities in the Islamic Republic.
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The protests are the largest anti-government demonstrations Iran has seen since 2009. Protesters complained about unemployment and rising food prices, and also called for governmental reforms. Other demonstrators rallied in support of the government.
At least 21 people have died and hundreds have been arrested.
Iranian leaders have blamed foreign governments, mainly the United States and Saudi Arabia, for fueling the protests.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Monday the people of Iran have the right to protest and suggested U.S. allies in the Middle East do not. He also told a security conference in Tehran that no country can create a secure environment by creating insecurity for other nations.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Iran, at United Nations headquarters in New York, Jan. 5, 2018.
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting Friday about the situation in Iran at the urging of the United States.
Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., called the protests "a powerful exhibition of brave people who have become so fed up with their oppressive government that they are willing to risk their lives in protests." She also addressed the Iranian government, saying, "The U.S. is watching what you do."
Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Gholamali Khoshroo, front, speaks during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Iran, Jan. 5, 2018, at United Nations headquarters in New York.
In response, the Iranian ambassador, Gholamali Khoshroo, said it is a "discredit" to the Security Council to hold such a meeting on Iran in the face of the conflicts taking place in Yemen and elsewhere in the Middle East. He, along with a number of Security Council members, said the United States is meddling in Iran's domestic affairs.
In Photos: California Protest Against Iranian Regime
California Protest Against Iranian Regime
1/4Thousands of people rally in support of Iranian anti-government protests in Los Angeles, Ca, Jan. 7, 2018.
2/4People rally in support of Iranian anti-government protests in Los Angeles, CA., Jan. 7, 2018.
3/4People rally in support of Iranian anti-government protests in Los Angeles, CA., Jan. 7, 2018.
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