Tehran: Iran's top security official warned Saturday of a firm response to what he described as armed and foreign-linked violence, as protests triggered by economic hardship continued across the country for a third week.

According to Anadolu Agency, Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated that security forces and the judiciary were ready to confront individuals involved in organized attacks and armed unrest 'in the strongest manner.' He also urged caution to avoid harm to civilians. In a televised interview broadcast by the Iranian state broadcaster Press TV, Larijani emphasized that acts such as looting, arson, and attacks on public and security facilities could not be explained by economic grievances alone.

Larijani accused the United States and Israel of seeking to exploit the unrest to destabilize Iran. He mentioned that security agencies had identified ringleaders of the unrest, with some already arrested and others facing imminent detention. Authorities had reportedly seized firearms, including assault rifles and handguns, which Larijani claimed indicated prior planning and coordination.

In a separate statement, the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) Intelligence Organization asserted that Iran's adversaries had shifted from direct military pressure to attempts to stir internal chaos. They vowed to confront any actions threatening public order and national security, highlighting recent unrest that included attacks on security facilities and the killing of civilians and personnel. The statement acknowledged peaceful demands for accountability as legitimate but rejected what it termed armed sabotage.

Iranian media, including the semi-official Tasnim News Agency, reported the arrest of around 100 people in Tehran province's Baharestan area. Local officials claimed that some detainees were accused of using firearms and bladed weapons against civilians and security forces.

Rights groups, however, have reported higher casualties. The US-based Iran Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that at least 65 people have been killed since protests erupted late last month, including demonstrators and members of security forces. HRANA also noted more than 2,300 detentions and dozens of injuries during demonstrations held in hundreds of locations nationwide.

Iran has witnessed waves of protests since late December, largely due to a steep decline in the value of the Iranian rial and deteriorating economic conditions. The demonstrations started on Dec. 28 near Tehran's Grand Bazaar and later expanded to several cities.