Student demonstrations continued across Iranian universities for the second straight day on Sunday, with violent confrontations breaking out between protesters and security forces, according to reports from local media outlets and social media platforms.
The ongoing campus unrest occurs as Iran works toward finalizing a nuclear agreement with the United States, even as American military forces increase their presence in the region.
These latest campus disturbances come on the heels of widespread anti-government protests that swept the country last month, resulting in thousands of deaths in what became Iran’s most severe domestic crisis since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Iranian state television broadcast footage showing what officials described as individuals “pretending to be students” who allegedly attacked government supporters on Tehran campuses. These pro-government students had been participating in counter-demonstrations to denounce January’s unrest. The footage showed the alleged attackers hurling stones and injuring students.
Additional protests occurred at educational institutions in Mashhad, located in Iran’s northeastern region, based on video evidence released by HRANA, a human rights organization based in the United States. The group reported that security force intervention during these demonstrations resulted in student injuries.
Video footage from Saturday allegedly captured large groups of demonstrators at Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology chanting against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whom they labeled a “murderous leader.” The protesters also voiced support for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled heir to Iran’s former monarchy, calling for his return as ruler.
The current wave of protests began in December, initially focusing on economic difficulties before evolving into broader political opposition. Authorities responded with the harshest crackdown on dissent witnessed since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
