TEHRAN, Jan. 2 -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday warned of what he calls the enemies' all-out efforts to harm the Islamic republic, Tasnim news agency reported.

The enemy has been always seeking to find an opportunity to infiltrate into Iran and harm the Iranian nation, Khamenei said in his first comments on the unrest in some Iranian cities that broke out on Thursday.

"The enemies of Iran allied with each other by employing various tools at their disposal, including money, weapon, politics and security organizations, in order to cause problems for the Islamic establishment," he was quoted as saying.

Khamenei described the Iranian nation's courage, devotion and faith as the main factors in warding off the hostile moves.

At least eight people, including seven civilians and one security policeman, were killed and dozens others injured as protests against the government's economic policies, including looming price hikes, continued in major cities across Iran over the past few days.

According to Iran's security officials, scores of protesters were arrested.

Earlier in the day, Iran's judiciary warned participants in violent unrests of the consequences of their disorderly conduct.