Iran saw its most violent night as “armed protesters” tried to overrun military bases and police stations before security overrun military bases and police stations before security forces repelled them.

Iranian state television initially reported 10 people were been killed overnight as violent protests continued nationwide, but that figure has been raised to 13 by a regional governor.

Footage showed a ransacked private bank, broken windows, overturned cars and a fire truck that appeared to have been set ablaze.

State TV said: "Some armed protesters tried to take over some police stations and military bases but faced serious resistance from security forces.”

It is reported that a police officer has been shot dead.

Protesters took to the streets following a televised address by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

The demonstrations are the largest to hit Iran since its disputed 2009 Presidential elections.

There have been five days of unrest across the country.

Protests began Thursday in Mashad over Iran’s weak economy and a jump in food prices and expanded to several cities.

Some protesters chanted against the Government and the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Up to 400 people have been arrested as police cracked down on protesters, including 200 in capital city Tehran.

Protests continued overnight despite an intervention from President Hassan Rouhani, who acknowledged the dissidents’ grievances but defended his record.

He said citizens are "completely free to express their criticism of the government or stage protests in a way that will lead to the improvement of the country’s conditions", while warning protesters against committing violent acts.

Although Iran is a major oil producer and a key centre of power in the Middle East, youth unemployment reached 28.8 percent last year.

As protests continue, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps has warned anti-government demonstrators they will face an “iron fist” if the unrest is not halted.

While president Rouhani said the government would show "no tolerance for those who damage public properties, violate public order and create unrest in society”.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson issued a statement late Monday which said: ”There should be meaningful debate about the legitimate and important issues the protesters are raising and we look to the Iranian authorities to permit this.

"We regret the loss of life that has occurred in the protests in Iran, and call on all concerned to refrain from violence and for international obligations on human rights to be observed.”

Iran’s economy has improved since the nuclear deal which saw Iran agree to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the end of some international sanctions.

Tehran now sells oil on the international market and has singed deals to purchase tense of billions of dollars’ worth of Western aircraft.

The authorities have suspended social media they believe are being used to organise protests, including Telegram and Instagram.

State media coverage of the protests focuses on young men attacking banks or burning the Iranian flag, AFP reports.

It is not clear where protests will lead. Although demonstrators have demanded the overthrow of the regime, there is no obvious alternative as political opposition figures have typically been silenced or sent into exile.