By Khalilur Rahman Salahshoor and Mustafa Melih Ahishali

TEHRAN

Iranians held multiple rallies across the country on Friday to condemn the U.S. administration’s support for recent anti-government protests.

One of the largest demonstrations was seen at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Musalla Mosque, where thousands of protesters blasted the U.S. administrations and chanted anti-U.S. slogans.

Similar demonstrations were seen in the Iranian provinces of Isfahan, Tabriz, Kerman, Bushehr and Gilan, where angry protesters shouted, "Down with the U.S. and Israel!"

On Dec. 28, thousands of people took to the streets in Iran’s northeastern cities of Mashhad and Kashmar to protest rising inflation, unemployment and perceived government mismanagement.

In the following days, however, the protests appeared to turn into "anti-regime" rallies, spreading to Iran’s Tehran, Kermanshah, Sanandaj, Zanjan, Ahvaz and Arak provinces.

More than 20 people were killed in the disturbances, including at least one policeman, while more than a thousand others were detained by the authorities.

*Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this report from Ankara