Major Student Protests Erupt Across Iranian University Campuses
Video footage verified by international media shows hundreds of students marching through university campuses in Tehran and Mashhad on Saturday. These rallies represent the largest student demonstrations since the violent crackdown on nationwide protests over 40 days ago, signaling continued unrest in the country.
Key University Locations and Protest Activities
The demonstrations took place at multiple prestigious institutions including Sharif University of Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology, and several medical sciences universities in both Tehran and Mashhad. At Sharif University in the capital, students carrying Iranian national flags chanted "death to the dictator" in reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside other anti-government and pro-monarchy slogans.
The BBC verified footage showing largely peaceful scenes at the start of the new semester before scuffles broke out between demonstrators and supporters of a rival pro-government gathering nearby. Basij paramilitary forces affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were deployed to the campuses, and protests were met with force by security personnel.
Additional Protest Scenes and Student Demands
Additional verified images showed a peaceful sit-in at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, while footage from Amirkabir University captured students chanting against the authorities. In Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, students were heard shouting "Freedom, freedom" and urging their peers to "shout for your rights." Further demonstrations were reported later in the day, with calls for more rallies on Sunday. It was not immediately clear whether arrests had been made during these campus protests.
Background of Recent Unrest and Conflicting Death Toll Figures
The latest student unrest follows mass protests that erupted in late December over economic grievances, including the collapse of the Iranian rial, before spreading nationwide. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has claimed more than 6,000 people were killed in the subsequent crackdown, including protesters and children, and said it was examining thousands more reported deaths.
Iranian authorities have put the official death toll at over 3,100, maintaining that many of those killed were security personnel or bystanders targeted by what they call rioters. This significant discrepancy in casualty figures highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding the government's response to protests.
Geopolitical Context and International Tensions
The student rallies come amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over Iran's nuclear programme, with US President Donald Trump weighing potential military action even as diplomatic efforts continue. This international pressure adds another layer of complexity to the domestic unrest unfolding across Iranian campuses.
The persistence of student protests suggests that despite the government's crackdown measures, dissatisfaction remains widespread among the educated youth population. The combination of economic grievances, political discontent, and international pressure creates a volatile situation that continues to evolve across Iran's academic institutions.
