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Iran protests: Authorities blocks access to social media amid anti-government rallies Iran protests: Authorities blocks access to social media amid anti-government rallies
(35 minutes later)
Iranian authorities have temporarily blocked mobile access to Instagram and the messaging app Telegram to "maintain peace" amid anti-government protests, state TV reports. Iranian authorities have temporarily blocked mobile access to Instagram and the messaging app Telegram to "maintain peace" amid anti-government protests, state TV reports. 
At least Two people were killed in the country's biggest protests since 2009. Many of the demonstrations have been started and promoted using Telegram.  At least two people were killed on Saturday in the country's biggest protests since 2009. Many of the demonstrations have been started and promoted using Telegram. 
Iran's interior minister, Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazil, said authorities would respond to the "spreading of violence, fear, and terror" Iran's interior minister, Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazil, said authorities would respond to the "spreading of violence, fear, and terror".
Pavel Durov, Telegram's Chief Executive, wrote on Twitter: "Iranian authorities are blocking access to Telegram for the majority of Iranians after our public refusal to shut down [one of the main channels] and other peacefully protesting channels." As the Iranian Government stepped up efforts to clampdown on the protests, Donald Trump tweeted: "Big protests in Iran. The people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. Looks like they will not take it any longer. The USA is watching very closely for human rights violations!"
Pavel Durov, Telegram's Chief Executive, confirmed that access to the app had been restricted.
He wrote on Twitter: "Iranian authorities are blocking access to Telegram for the majority of Iranians after our public refusal to shut down [one of the main channels] and other peacefully protesting channels."
The company did agree to close one channel on Saturday after Iranian authorities claimed people were using it to incite violence. The company did agree to close one channel on Saturday after Iranian authorities claimed people were using it to incite violence. 
State news website Irib News quoted an unnamed source as saying: "With a decision by the Supreme National Security Council, activities of Telegram and Instagram are temporarily limited." Iranian state news website Irib News quoted an unnamed source as saying: "With a decision by the Supreme National Security Council, activities of Telegram and Instagram are temporarily limited."
Facebook, which owns Instagram, is yet to respond to the shutdown.Facebook, which owns Instagram, is yet to respond to the shutdown.
As protests continued, at least two protestors were killed in clashes in the city of Doroud, 200 miles south-west of the capital, Tehran. Protests began on Thursday and had included tens of thousands of people, although appeared to have died down on Sunday. 
The initial clashes were over economic difficulties and alleged corruption among the elite, but there were also demands for the country's unelected leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to resign.
Videos posted on social media showed demonstrators chanting "Mullahs, have some shame, leave the country alone".
As protests continued, at least two people were killed in clashes in the city of Doroud, 200 miles south-west of the capital, Tehran.
The province's security chief, Habibollah Khojastepour, denied they had been shot by police.The province's security chief, Habibollah Khojastepour, denied they had been shot by police.
"No bullets were shot from police and security forces at the people", he said. "No bullets were shot from police and security forces at the people", he said. 
"The gathering was to be ended peacefully, but due to the presence of [agitators], unfortunately this happened."  "We have found evidence of enemies of the revolution, [militant] groups and foreign agents in this clash.
"The gathering was to be ended peacefully, but due to [their] presence, unfortunately this happened." 
The UK's Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, said he was "watching events in Iran with concern".
He wrote on Twitter: "Vital that citizens should have the right to demonstrate peacefully."
In an attempt to quell the uprising, the Government scrapped plans to raise fuel prices, agreed to increase cash payments to the poor and pledged to create at least 830,000 new jobs in the next year.