DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Protests have struck several major cities in Iran, including the conservative stronghold of Mashhad, over the government cutting back on gasoline subsidies and increasing costs by 50%.

The state-run IRNA news agency reported early Saturday that some had blocked roads by abandoning their cars in traffic in Mashhad.

IRNA said the protest ended after police intervened.

Mashhad is where nationwide economic protests in late 2017 began. Analysts say hard-liners started those demonstrations to pressure the relatively moderate President Hassan Rouhani.

Violence broke out in Sirjan, some 800 kilometers (500 miles) southeast of Tehran. IRNA said “protesters tried to set fire to the oil depot, but they were stopped by police.”

Iran is facing economic pressure following the U.S. re-imposing economic sanctions after unilaterally withdrawing from Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal.