From the BBC:

Anti-government demonstrations that began in Iran on Thursday have now spread to several major cities.

Large numbers reportedly turned out in Rasht, in the north, and Kermanshah, in the west, with smaller protests in Isfahan, Hamadan and elsewhere.

The protests began against rising prices but have spiralled into a general outcry against clerical rule and government policies…

On Friday, despite warnings from authorities, the demonstrations spread further to some of the biggest cities in the country.

They represent the most serious and widespread expression of public discontent in Iran since mass protests in 2009 that followed a disputed election, correspondents say.

Video on social media shows just how vehement the protests have gotten, with open calls to end clerical rule and denunciations of the regime’s regional allies like Hamas and Hezbollah:

Protesters in Rasht face the Baseej and chant “we don’t want to be ruled by the clerics any more” #iranprotests pic.twitter.com/lzROiYyRss

— Potkin Azarmehr (@potkazar) December 29, 2017

People of Mashhad shout “No Gaza, No Lebanon, our lives are devoted to Iran” protesting Iran’s Islamic regime for financially supporting terrorist groups such as #Hezbollah and #Hamas pic.twitter.com/Ed7YaqBwxK

— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) December 28, 2017

“Death to Hezbollah.”
pic.twitter.com/4ouFOxEZj6

— Alireza Nader (@AlirezaNader) December 29, 2017

The State Department has issued a statement of support for the protestors, a nice departure from the Obama administration’s conspicuously muted response to the 2009 protests:

#Trump Administration issues Statement in full support of #Iran protestors.
Supports “those elements inside of Iran that would lead to a peaceful transition of government…” pic.twitter.com/sMBGue9Z9c

— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) December 29, 2017

Speaker Ryan has also voiced his support:

Important that we support the nonviolent protesters in #Iran. This is the result of a regime more focused on propping up terrorist organizations than addressing the plight of its citizens.

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) December 29, 2017

Stay tuned.