Hundreds took to the streets of Iran's second largest city of Mashad on Thursday to protest over high prices, shouting slogans against the government. Videos posted on social media showed demonstrators in Mashad in northwest Iran, one of the holiest places in Shia Islam,

chanting "death to (President Hassan) Rouhani" and "death to the dictator". The semi-official ILNA news agency and social media reported demonstrations in other cities in Razavi Khorasan Province, including Neyshabour and Kashmar.

Rouhani's signature achievement, a deal in 2015 with world powers to curb Iran's nuclear program in return for lifting most international sanctions, has yet to bring the broad economic benefits the government says are coming. Many Iranians believe their economic situation has not improved due to corruption and mismanagement.

Unemployment stood at 12.4 percent in this fiscal year, according to the Statistical Centre of Iran, up 1.4 percent from the previous year. About 3.2 million Iranians are jobless, out of a total population of 80 million.

Copyright Reuters, 2017