TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's opposition group, the People's Mujahedeen, said on Sunday that protests had spread to more than 107 cities, while Iran acknowledged on Sunday it was still facing "riots", although the situation had become "calmer", days after demonstrations marred by violence. BACKGROUND Gasoline prices have risen, while state media said Iran's Revolutionary Guards had warned protesters against "decisive" action if unrest did not stop.

In detail, the PMOI said the protests spread to 107 cities in Iran, citing 61 deaths in clashes between protesters and security forces.

Iranian opposition sources said schools in the provinces of Isfahan, Shiraz, Barz and Khuzestan were suspended because of the protests.

A video showed the empty bullets used by Iranian security forces against protesters in the city of Karaj, west of Tehran.

Iranian opposition sources said security forces were firing live ammunition at demonstrators and burning all banks in the Afifabad area of ​​Shiraz.

Government spokesman Ali Rubaie said the situation was "calmer" yesterday, but added at a press conference in Tehran that there were still "some minor issues, and that tomorrow or tomorrow we will have no problems with the riots."

"There are gatherings in some cities and provinces."

Asked to reveal casualty figures for the unrest, he said: "What I can say today is that the gatherings are about 80% less than the previous day."

The situation on the streets was not clear yesterday morning, due to the interruption of the Internet, which stopped the flow of videos on social media for demonstrations or violence related.

Iran's economy has been in crisis since May last year, when US President Donald Trump pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed tough sanctions on Tehran.

The United States on Sunday condemned Iran's use of "lethal force" against demonstrators.

"We condemn the deadly force and the strict restrictions on communications against demonstrators," White House press secretary Stephanie Gresham said in a statement.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who tweeted last Saturday that "the United States is with you," following the demonstrations.

In a statement issued late on Tuesday, the ministry said it was responding to Pompeo's comments that "showed support for a group of rioters in some cities of Iran, condemning such support, and statements that are considered interference."

"The Iranian people know very well that such hypocritical and false statements do not contain any genuine and genuine sympathy," the foreign ministry spokesman was quoted as saying.

He added that «the practices of some anarchists and saboteurs backed by his likes (Pompeo), is not consistent at all with the conscious behavior of the Iranian people».

For its part, Germany called yesterday for dialogue between the government and the "legitimate" protesters in Iran.

Iran announced its sudden decision to raise fuel prices, and rationing its distribution midnight on Friday, in a move aimed at raising funds used to help citizens in need.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Thursday defended the controversial resolution, whose revenues will be used to help 60 million Iranians.

Rouhani said in statements after a government meeting that the first payments to 20 million people starting from yesterday evening.

"Protests are a right for all citizens, but we will not allow the troublemakers to destabilize the security of society," he said.

The intelligence ministry said over the weekend that it had identified the people responsible for the unrest and that action would be taken against them.

Forty people were arrested in the central city of Yazd, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported.

Some 180 people have been arrested in the past three days in the southern province of Khuzestan, the official IRNA news agency reported yesterday.

Fars news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, said it was not clear when the Internet restrictions would be lifted, citing an informed government source.

"If necessary, we will take decisive and revolutionary action against any continuing moves to destabilize peace and security," the Revolutionary Guards, Iran's main heavily armed security force, said in a statement carried by state media.

Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, yesterday blamed the unrest on Iran's opponents and foreign enemies, describing protesters who attacked public property as "thugs" and "rioters."

Iran's economy has been in crisis since Trump unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal.

Iranian opposition reports 61 deaths in clashes between protesters and security forces. Archival