Iranian Students Stage Campus Protests as New Semester Begins

Students at several Iranian universities staged anti-government protests at the start of the new academic term, with some demonstrations leading to clashes between anti-regime and pro-government groups. The rallies come weeks after the deadliest unrest in Iran since 1979 and amid escalating tensions with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Protests Across Major Universities

Students gathered on Saturday at universities in Tehran and other cities, according to local media reports and videos circulating on social media.

Footage widely shared online appeared to show hundreds of demonstrators marching at Sharif University of Technology, one of Iran’s leading engineering institutions. Protesters were heard chanting “Death to the dictator,” a slogan widely interpreted as a reference to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Some demonstrators were also seen chanting “Long live the Shah,” invoking Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch, who was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Opposing groups reportedly confronted each other across campus courtyards. Videos showed pro-government students waving Iranian flags and chanting “Heydar, Heydar,” a Shia religious slogan associated by supporters with Khamenei’s leadership.

Clashes were also reported at Shahid Beheshti University and Amirkabir University of Technology in Tehran, as well as at Mashhad University in northeastern Iran. Reuters said it could not independently verify all of the footage shared by rights groups.

Commemorations for Protest Victims

The demonstrations coincided with traditional 40-day mourning ceremonies for those killed during last month’s nationwide unrest. That wave of protests, initially sparked by economic grievances, expanded into widespread anti-government demonstrations across hundreds of towns and cities.

Authorities say 3,117 people were killed in what they describe as the most severe unrest in the country’s modern history. Foreign-based human rights groups claim the death toll is significantly higher. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that 32,000 protesters had been killed, a figure Tehran has strongly rejected. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on Washington to provide evidence for the claim.

In western Iran’s Abdanan, identified by rights groups as a protest hotspot, demonstrators reportedly chanted “Death to Khamenei” after the arrest of an activist teacher.

Tensions With Washington

The campus unrest comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions. The United States has significantly increased its military presence in the Middle East, prompting fears among many Iranians of a potential military confrontation.

On Thursday, Trump warned Tehran that it had “a maximum of 15 days” to reach a deal over its nuclear program or face unspecified consequences.

U.S. and European officials have long accused Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran denies. Recent diplomatic contacts in Switzerland were described by both sides as constructive, though no agreement has yet been announced.

Universities as Political Flashpoints

Iran’s universities have historically been centers of political activism. Students played a prominent role in the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests, which led to widespread arrests and disciplinary actions against students and faculty members.

President Masoud Pezeshkian’s government has said many students and professors affected by those protests have since resumed their academic work. Authorities remain wary, however, that campus demonstrations could evolve into broader street protests.

The semi-official Fars news agency reported that memorial gatherings at Sharif University had initially been intended as peaceful events but alleged that masked individuals redirected crowds toward anti-government slogans. The agency also said pro-government students objected to what they described as violations of Ramadan restrictions.

Videos from Amirkabir University showed students chanting, “This fallen flower is devoted to the homeland,” a phrase used by protesters to commemorate those killed in recent unrest. At Shahid Beheshti University, students reportedly displayed placards demanding the release of detained classmates.

In Mashhad, students called for “freedom,” according to footage shared online.

Uncertain Outlook

With dissent intensifying and regional tensions mounting, the latest campus protests underscore the fragile domestic situation in Iran. Whether the demonstrations remain confined to universities or expand into wider nationwide unrest remains unclear.

Iranian authorities have not provided updated figures on arrests related to Saturday’s protests.