Guard: Antigovernmental Protests Suffered Loss

In Sunday's statement, this guard said Iran's <x0-strong revolutionary people, along with tens of thousands of military forces, police and intelligence, have broken the chain of riots created... by the United States, Britain”, Saudi Arabia, militants and monarchists.

This announcement has been published after the Iranian Parliament has held a closed session for discussing anti-government protests, which have included this country for more than a week.

The parliamentary session has been called by the reformist group of lawmakers, who have questioned security and intelligence officials about the causes of the uprising, which the Iranian government has also blamed on outsiders.

Iran's Parliament website has reported that lawmakers have questioned Interior Minister Abdolrahman Fazli, intelligence minister Mahmoud Alavi, and Supreme National Security Council senior official Ali Shamkhani.

Some lawmakers have expressed concern about internet control, which was implemented amid riots, including the ban on Iran's most popular app, the telegram, which Iranian officials have said was used for inciting violence.

“Parliament is not in favour of maintaining Telegram filtering, but must be dedicated that it will not be used as a tool by the enemies of the Iranian people”, parliamentary spokesman Behrouz Nemati said.

Almost one third of Iran's 80 million population uses the Telegram app as a top news source and a way to bypass high-level state media.

The United States and Israel have voiced support for protesters, but have dismissed the accusations of inciting them.

Iranian state media on Sunday have broadcast live images of the fifth day of government-backed gatherings, which are organised by authorities.

State media don't report anti-government protests.

But, Radio Free Europe/Radio Freedom, has received reliable reports that the protests have continued Saturday in at least nine cities in Iran, including the capital Tehran, where social media images show gatherings, despite the great presence of police forces.

Radio Farda, operating within Radio Free Europe, has received reliable reports from sources in Iran, about demonstrations during the night, against the rule of clergy in this country, in the towns of Takesan, Arak, Masjed Solemani, Mashhad, Qazvin, Rast, Lahiyan and Khomen, which is the hometown of Aiothlah Khomeni, founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran.