Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday that protests over the death of a woman in police custody were "planned" and not staged by "ordinary Iranians," in his first comments on the unrest that has swept the country since September 17.

In comments reported by state media, Khamenei stated the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini "deeply broke my heart," calling it a "bitter incident."

But he mentioned "some people had caused insecurity in the streets," adding there had been planned "riots."