Protests erupted at several universities across Iran on Saturday as students marked the beginning of a new academic semester, with demonstrations reported in multiple cities and occasional clashes between protesters and pro-government groups, according to local media reports and social media footage.
The unrest coincided with traditional 40-day mourning ceremonies held for individuals killed during last month’s anti-government demonstrations, which were described as the most severe domestic upheaval in the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and reportedly resulted in thousands of deaths during confrontations with security forces.
Videos circulating online, whose authenticity could not be independently verified, appeared to show large groups of students marching at Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology. In the footage, protesters were seen chanting slogans condemning Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, referring to him as a “murderous leader,” while some demonstrators called for the return of Reza Pahlavi — the exiled son of Iran’s former shah — as a monarch.
State-linked news agency SNN published videos showing confrontations at the university, alleging that protesters threw stones and injured members of the Basij student militia. The Basij, a volunteer force aligned with the government, frequently assists security agencies in suppressing protests and maintaining order during periods of unrest.
Demonstrations were also reported at Shahid Beheshti University and Amir Kabir University in Tehran, as well as Mashhad University in northeastern Iran, according to videos shared by the rights organisation HAALVSH, though independent verification of these reports remained unavailable.
In the western town of Abdanan, another area that has witnessed repeated unrest, protesters reportedly gathered following the arrest of an activist teacher, chanting slogans such as “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to the dictator,” according to rights group Hengaw and social media posts.
The renewed student protests highlight continuing tensions in Iran following recent nationwide demonstrations, reflecting persistent political dissatisfaction despite ongoing security crackdowns.
