Iranians hold large rallies in defiance of warning by Revolutionary Guards head

Raids on student campuses sparked protests despite threats made by chief of security force about response to further unrest

Thousands of Iranians have demonstrated in defiance of a final warning by the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps that he would bring protests to an end with unprecedented force.

Rallies were held on the streets on Sunday to protest against raids on student dormitories over the weekend in which students were taken away in buses to state detention. Some were sent text messages saying they were banned from campus indefinitely.