Iranian authorities announced Monday that they will hold public trials in Tehran for 1,000 people arrested in ongoing protests across the country.

It's the government's first major legal action to tamp down protests sweeping the country since 22-year-old Masha Amini died Sept. 16 in the custody of the "morality police." The Kurdish-Iranian woman was arrested for allegedly wearing her head scarf improperly while visiting Tehran.

The demonstrations have mushroomed into protests of the country's fundamentalist Islamic government. Police have violently clashed with protesters.

Iran's state-run news agency, IRNA, reported that 1,000 people will stand trial in Tehran.

"Those who intend to confront and subvert the regime are dependent on foreigners and will be punished according to legal standards," said Iran's judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei. Ejei said some protesters are working with the help of foreign governments, an unfounded claim that has been repeated by other Iranian government officials.

Iranian security forces have attempted to reign in the nationwide protests, firing bullets and tear gas to disperse gatherings. Rights groups say at least 216 people, including 32 children, have been killed since the protests began and thousands more have been injured and detained.