Iranian President Rouhani on Wednesday claimed victory over unrest he blamed on Iran's foreign enemies, according to state media, after protests over an increase in gasoline prices last week that have shaken the country. 

"The Iranian people have again succeeded at an historic test and shown that they will not let enemies benefit from the situation, even though they might have complaints about the country's management," Rouhani said in remarks carried by the state broadcaster IRIB on its website. 

"The spontaneous (pro-government) demonstrations which you see is the greatest sign of the power of the Iranian people," Rouhani said. 

Thousands of Iranians joined pro-government rallies in several cities on Wednesday, Iran's state media reported. 

State television showed rallies in the northern city of Rasht, in Gorgan in the northeast and in Shahryar south of the capital, Tehran, where a member of the security forces had been killed in the unrest. 

State media carried pictures of Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's top security body, marching in Shahryar behind a banner that read "Death to America and Israel's deception!" 

Iran has blamed "thugs" linked to exiles and foreign enemies – the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia – for the protests. 

The unrest began on Friday after gasoline prices were raised at least 50 percent and rationing imposed.  

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday the protest had been a security matter, not a popular movement, and had been dealt with successfully. 

"We have repelled the enemy in the arena of security warfare... in recent days," he said, adding that the unrest had not been the result of a popular movement. 

"The recent actions were security issues, not from the people," he said. "We have repelled the enemy." 

About 1,000 protesters have been arrested, officials said. The U.N. human rights office said it had received reports that dozens of people had been killed. It urged authorities to rein in its use of force to disperse protests. 

Iran's economy has been battered since May last year when the United States unilaterally withdrew from a 2015 nuclear agreement and reimposed crippling sanctions.