Verified footage shows hundreds of students marching peacefully through the campus of Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, chanting slogans such as “Death to the dictator” in reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Clashes later erupted when pro-government supporters confronted the demonstrators.
Similar scenes unfolded at Shahid Beheshti University and Amir Kabir University of Technology, where sit-ins and rallies echoed calls for freedom and student rights. In Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, crowds chanted “Freedom, freedom” and “Students, shout for your rights.” Reports indicate further demonstrations spread to other cities, with activists urging more rallies on Sunday. It remains unclear whether arrests were made.
The protests were held in memory of thousands killed during mass demonstrations in January. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana) reported at least 6,159 deaths, including 92 children, while Iranian officials claimed just over 3,100 fatalities, most of them security forces or bystanders. The discrepancy underscores the deep mistrust between citizens and the government.
The unrest comes amid escalating tensions with Washington. President Donald Trump has signaled that a limited military strike against Iran remains on the table, even as US and Iranian negotiators reported progress in Switzerland on curbing Tehran’s nuclear program. Trump warned the world would know within “the next 10 days” whether diplomacy prevails or military action follows.
Western governments suspect Iran is edging closer to developing nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran has consistently denied. Meanwhile, exiled opposition groups are urging Trump to act, hoping foreign intervention could topple the hardline regime. Other opposition voices, however, caution against outside involvement, fearing it could deepen instability.
Saturday’s demonstrations highlight the resilience of Iran’s student movement, which has historically played a pivotal role in political change. With tensions mounting both at home and abroad, the protests may signal the beginning of a new phase of confrontation between Iran’s youth and its ruling establishment.
