London-based human rights group Amnesty International on Monday said that at least 208 people have been killed in Iran since demonstrations broke out in mid-November, AFP reports.

The protests erupted following an uproar over the sudden rise in the price of petrol by as much as 200 percent.

The price rises were 15,000 rials per liter (12 US cents) from 10,000 for the first 60 liters, and to 30,000 rials for any additional fuel purchased after that every month.

A number of establishments, including banks, petrol pumps and police stations, have been set on fire.

On Saturday, Amnesty said that the number of protesters killed stood at least 161 citing what it termed as credible reports.

However, Iran's deputy interior minister Jamal Orf disputed the number given out accusing the organization's sources of exaggerating them.

Iranian authorities are yet to give an official figure of the death toll from the protests.

Iran's economy has been in turmoil since 2018 after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and placed tough sanctions on Iran.