Iran's protests spread to universities and schools

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi called for national unity on Tuesday as anti-government protests spread to universities and high schools.

Unrest has rocked Iran in the past few weeks after the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, in the custody of the country’s so-called morality police. She was arrested after allegedly failing to observe the republic's strict dress code for women.

Mr Raisi said his country had “weaknesses and shortcomings,” but repeated the official line that Ms Amini’s death was a plot by Iran’s enemies.

In response to comments by US President Joe Biden, who said he would impose “further costs” in retaliation for the protests, Tehran accused Washington of “hypocrisy” on human rights.

Late on Monday, the White House issued a statement in which Mr Biden said he would impose unspecified additional measures against Iran later this week on top of the crippling sanctions already in force over its nuclear activities.

It comes as Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday accused the US and Israel of fomenting the unrest rocking the country.

Demonstrations across the country have spread to university campuses, which are considered sanctuaries in times of unrest. Videos on social media showed students expressing solidarity with peers who had been arrested and calling for the end of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Many universities moved classes online this week.