DUBAI: Iran’s top judge warned protesters on Wednesday there would be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic,” while accusing Israel and the US of pursuing hybrid methods to disrupt the country. The current protests, the biggest wave of dissent in three years, began last month in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar by shopkeepers condemning the currency’s free fall. Unrest has since spread nationwide amid deepening distress over economic hardships, including rocketing inflation driven by mismanagement and Western sanctions, and curbs on political and social freedoms.

War with Israel, a battered economy, and the swift loss of allies have left Iran vulnerable in the face of mounting protests.

At least 19 protesters in Iran have been killed over the last eight days of unrest, including 3 teens. They protest inflation and weak currency.