TEHRAN - Iran’s judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani warned on Thursday he would not tolerate any corruption within his ranks, threatening to publicly name any offending employee.

“I thought it would be enough to dismiss five judges breaking the law for others to become aware of their actions, but that is not the case,” he said in comments broadcast on state television.

Larijani, who is seen as close to Iran’s ultra-conservatives, said he was determined to publish the names and photos of offending judges and judiciary staff in the media. He said the measure aimed to “maintain the dignity and respect due to the majority of the members of the judiciary, who are clean and virtuous”.

Larijani’s comments come days after former president Mohammad Khatami called on the judiciary chief to “take measures against corruption” to restore the judiciary’s reputation and to protect the rights of citizens.

Despite being barred from public appearances over his role in 2009 protests, Khatami remains one of the most popular figures in Iranian politics.

His endorsement was seen as crucial to the election of President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate conservative, in 2013 and again last year.

Last week, Khatami called on authorities to listen to popular demands after a wave of deadly unrest sparked by economic woes but which also included calls for regime change.

Twenty-five people were killed during the protests across the country from December 28 to January 1, the authorities have said. The unrest has exacerbated tensions between Rouhani and ultra-conservatives.

The hardliners criticise the government’s policy of outreach and accuse it of neglecting the poorest members of Iran’s population.