Iranian law enforcement agencies have arrested nearly 3,000 people accused of links to terrorist groups and participating in mass riots, Tasnim News Agency reports.

The unrest in Iran began on December 29 after street protests sparked by the sharp fall in the exchange rate of the Iranian national currency, the rial, and spread to most major cities of the country.

Iranian authorities have reported the deaths of about 40 law enforcement officers.

There were armed terrorists among the protesters, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said.

Iranian authorities have blamed Israel and the US for planning the unrest.

US President Donald Trump had earlier warned that he was seriously considering the possibility of using force against Iran.