The largest protests to hit Iran in almost a decade have swept across the country in recent days, sparking violent retaliation from government forces. U.S. President Donald Trumps provocative tweets have further inflamed hostilities as Tehrans crackdown intensifies.

With a rising death toll and growing international attention, the anti-government demonstrations present an unpredictable challenge for Iranian authorities, who swiftly blamed the nations enemies. As the clashes threaten to drag into a second week, heres an outline of whats happening, and why.

What Are The Protests About?

Protests erupted in Mashhad, Irans second-largest city, on Thursday. Hordes of Iranians took to the streets, angrily decrying dismal economic conditions, rising inflation and unemployment, and allegations of widespread corruption.

Protesters are disappointed by the limited economic improvement the nation experienced as a result of Irans historic 2015 nuclear agreement with six other countries. After decades of diplomatic friction between Tehran and the West, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for relief from stifling economic sanctions.

President Hassan Rouhani, a key architect of the deal who was re-elected in May, promised it would revive the economy and create millions of jobs.

The nuclear deal is overwhelmingly supported by the Iranian public, but there was an expectation that much more economic development would come out of it, Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council, told CNN .

In recent days, the demonstrations have spread to dozens of cities and towns, including the capital Tehran.

The Iranian peoples demands have been put off too long , a protestor identified only as Yaser told the BBC from the city of Talesh. None of the authorities have allowed a platform for these demands to be heard. The protesters are decent, not saboteurs. ... They want jobs, an income and marriage. No protester deserves a bullet.