Iran says protests will fade in days, 'serious measures' to be taken on rioters

Teheran

PROTESTS that have roiled Iran over the past five days will die down in a few days, according to a senior Iranian official, as authorities said hundreds of those involved in the unrest have been detained.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary general of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, accused Saudi Arabia, Iran's main regional rival, of waging a social media campaign to take advantage of the protests. The demonstrations broke out last week, starting in the holy city of Mashhad and spreading to other parts of the country, including the capital, Tehran.