WASHINGTON slapped sanctions on five Iranian companies yesterday and called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting, further stepping up pressure on Tehran over the deadly unrest that has gripped the country.

The US moves came even as Iranian authorities declared an end to the turmoil, and pro-regime demonstrators rallied across the nation while officials switched focus to addressing the economic concerns that have fuelled protests.

The US imposed sanctions against five Iranian firms alleged to have been working on an illegal ballistic missile programme, linking the move to the protests.

“These sanctions target key entities involved in Iran’s ballistic missile programme, which the Iranian regime prioritises over the economic well-being of the Iranian people,” US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said.

On the streets of Tehran, meanwhile, a heavy police presence lingered though there were no reports of fresh protests overnight. 

Limited social media activity suggested unrest in provincial towns was also down.

Iranian state TV showed huge pro-government crowds marching across 10 cities, including Isfahan, Ardebil and Mashhad, where the protests first erupted a week ago.

“We are together behind the leader,” chanted the demonstrators, in reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The UN Security Council was set to hold an emergency meeting this afternoon to discuss the wave of protests in Iran, at the request of the United States.

Russia has criticised the US push for Iran to be discussed at the Security Council and it remained unclear if other council members would try to block the meeting via a procedural vote.

In a bid to address grievances that drove the initial unrest, Iranian authorities were weighing options, including blocking unpopular measures in President Hassan Rouhani’s recent budget.

“The people’s main demand now is for the government and officials to deal with the economic problems,” Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Khamenei, told the semi-official ISNA news agency. – AFP, January 5, 2018.