Iran: 12 Killed in Protests, Attacks on Security

The most significant protests in eight years are rocking Iran, with state media reporting Monday that at least 12 demonstrators have been killed.

Hundreds of people have been arrested and activists are taking the rare step of publicly criticizing the country's religious leaders.

The protests started out as local rallies against Iran's economic problems but have since spread in both geography and scope.

Iranians last week took to the streets of Mashhad, the country's second-largest city, in protest at high inflation and the rising prices of everyday goods.

What started as an isolated economic grievance appears to have morphed into a wider expression of dissatisfaction with the government.

"I think it's far more serious than we anticipated a few days ago," said Sanam Vakil, an associate fellow at London's Chatham House think tank.

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