Alwaght- Nationwide rallies condemning the riots in Iran over the past few days started in the capital Tehran and other cities after Friday prayers.
A meaningful number of pro-government marchers is expected to take to the streets and rallies would continue to the evening.
The rallies follow a week of unrest in a number of Iranian cities that followed death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, in a police station by a stroke on September 16.
A thorough investigation was ordered by President Sayed Ibrahim Raisi who is in New York for UNGA 77th session.
On Thursday statements were published by student unions and other popular circles calling for a strong response to rioters who are mainly provoked by Western media propaganda.
The country has seen tense days over the past week as some youths, mainly anti-government and pro-Western, took to the streets of a number of cities and chanted anti-government slogans.
Their protests, however, slipped out of peacefull ways and turned into violent riots. Attacks on the public utilities and police forces were reported.
The protesters turned so radicalized that triggered voices calling for a strong response from the government.
On Wednesday, students at Tehran University gathered in the opposition of the rioters. They called for calm and return to logic and lashed out at the West for the provocations and even encouragement.
"We paid a heavy price, we sacrificed with our blood for Iran. They [the protesters] know no logic, they destroy banks and shops, they torch the buses, they are not for dialogue," a student of Tehran University said on Tuesday.
Large-scale rallies came today, with people changing "down with America" and "down with Israel."
People also thanked the police forces "for securing the country."
The army also published a statement on Friday, condemning the "violence against the guardians of security" in a reference to the police forces.
"The army stands by the police forces and protects the national interests and sovereignty," the statement read.
