The United States called an emergency UN Security Council meeting to show the Iranian government that “the world will be watching” their response to this week’s protests, Ambassador Nikki Haley has said.

Tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets to protest economic stagnation, rising prices, and fears of political repression in recent days. Tehran responded by shutting off access to some social media and messaging apps, and broadcasting footage of other, pro-government rallies.

Ms Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, praised the anti-government protesters, saying that "the world should applaud their courage," and that the US "stands unapologetically with those in Iran who seek freedom for themselves."

"The Iranian regime is finally on notice: The world will be watching what you do," she said on Friday.

She added that the international community cannot let Tehran silence protesters' messages, particularly by blocking social media.

Ms Haley has previously said the protests were a matter of Iranians’ human rights, as well as international peace and security. US President Donald Trump has expressed support for the anti-government protesters as well.

Iran protests – in pictures Show all 11 1 /11 Iran protests – in pictures Iran protests – in pictures University students at an anti-government protest inside Tehran University, 30 December 2017 AP Iran protests – in pictures A university student at a protest inside Tehran University while a smoke grenade is thrown by anti-riot Iranian police, 30 December 2017 AP Iran protests – in pictures University students at a protest inside Tehran University, 30 December 2017 AP Iran protests – in pictures University students run away from the police during an anti-government protest inside Tehran University, 30 December 2017 AP Iran protests – in pictures An image grab taken from a handout video released by Iran's Mehr News agency reportedly shows a group of men pulling at a fence in a street in Tehran, 30 December 2017 AFP/Getty Iran protests – in pictures Demonstrators gather to protest in Tehran, 30 December 2017 AP Iran protests – in pictures Iranians chant slogans as they march in support of the government near the Imam Khomeini grand mosque in Tehran, 30 December 2017 AFP/Getty Iran protests – in pictures Iranians chant slogans as they march in support of the government near the Imam Khomeini grand mosque in Tehran, December 30 2017 Iran protests – in pictures Iranian clerics take part during a state-organized rally against anti-government protests in the country, in the holy city of Qom, south west Iran, 3 January 2018 EPA Iran protests – in pictures In this photo provided by the Iranian Students' News Agency, a clergyman takes a picture of a pro-government demonstration in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, Iran, 3 January 2018 ISNA via AP Iran protests – in pictures Pro-government demonstrators gather at the Massoumeh shrine in Iran's holy city of Qom, some 130 kilometres south of Tehran, 3 January 2018 AFP/Getty

Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said on Friday that about 42,000 people took part in the week of anti-government protests, which enveloped more than 80 towns. At least 21 people were killed.

As the protests slowed, thousands of pro-government protesters also took to the streets, some holding pictures of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and waving national flags. State TV reported pro-government demonstrations in dozens of cities and towns.

Hardline cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami's suggested the government should soothe unrest by creating its own social media platforms, claiming that "cyberspace was kindling the fire of the battle”.

"When cyberspace was closed down, the sedition was stopped,” Mr Khatami said. “The nation does not support a social network that has its key in the hands of the United States."

Pro-regime supporters in Iran take to the streets in State TV footage

Other Iranian leaders have also accused the US of having a role in the protests. The country’s prosecutor general claimed the CIA was the “main designer” of the protests, and Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo said Mr Trump had "incited Iranians to engage in disruptive acts” through his “absurd tweets”.

Russia’s UN ambassador also accused the US of overstepping its bounds on Friday, claiming the calls for a Security Council meeting interfered with the country’s sovereignty.

Mr Trump has been vocal in his support of the protests, which he said were a response to the “brutal and corrupt Iranian regime”.