Iranian University Students Continue Protests for Second Day in a Row

University campuses across Iran witnessed a second consecutive day of protests on Sunday, as students expressed their discontent with the nation’s religious leadership.

This wave of dissent arises amidst increased U.S. military presence in the region, intended to urge Iran into a nuclear agreement.

On the previous day, students voiced their opposition through anti-government chants, clashing with those supporting the regime.

Footage allegedly captured at Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology depicted demonstrators labeling Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a “murderous leader” and advocating for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the former shah, to assume monarchy.

In videos verified by Agence France-Presse as originating from Iran’s premier engineering institution, skirmishes erupted amid cries of “bi sharaf,” which translates to “disgraceful” in Farsi.

Footage posted by the Persian-language TV channel Iran International, which is based outside the country, also showed a large crowd chanting anti-government slogans at Sharif University of Technology.

The Fars news agency later said there were reports of injuries in scuffles at the institution.

Iranians had reprised their protest slogans earlier this week to mark the 40th day since mass anti-government demonstrations last month which were met with a government crackdown that left thousands dead.

The crackdown had prompted US President Donald Trump to threaten to intervene militarily, though the focus of his threats eventually shifted to Iran’s nuclear program, which Western governments fear is aimed at producing a bomb.

The US and Iran recently resumed Oman-mediated talks on a potential deal, but the US has simultaneously increased its military presence in the region, dispatching two aircraft carriers, jets and weaponry to back its warnings.

Fars said that what was supposed to be a “silent and peaceful sit-in” on Saturday of students commemorating those killed was disrupted by people chanting slogans including “death to the dictator” — a reference to Iran’s supreme leader.

A video posted by Fars showed a group chanting and waving Iranian flags facing off with a crowd wearing masks and being held back by men in suits.

Meanwhile around the world, Iranian expats and supporters lit candles to mourn the thousands of Iranian protesters killed amid the deadly crackdown.

Talks and threats

The unrest first broke out in December over prolonged financial strain, but exploded into mass anti-government protests that were suppressed in a violent crackdown by security forces.

The clerical authorities acknowledge more than 3,000 deaths, but say the violence was caused by “terrorist acts” fuelled by Iran’s enemies.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, however, has recorded more than 7,000 killings in the crackdown, the vast majority protesters, though the toll may be far higher.

Iranian authorities had initially acknowledged the legitimacy of the protesters’ economic demands, but as the movement took on an overtly anti-government tone, they accused archenemies the United States and Israel of whipping up “riots”.

Ever since the initial wave of protests, the United States and Iran have been trading threats of military action.

Trump sent the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the region, while a second, the USS Gerald R Ford, is en route via the Mediterranean.

The US has also redeployed dozens of other warplanes to the Middle East — where it maintains several bases — while boosting its air defences.

The build-up seeks to pressure Iran’s authorities as the two sides pursue nuclear talks.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told US media this week that following the latest round of negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, Iran would be submitting a draft proposal for an agreement, saying it would be read in a matter of days.

Araghchi also said the “US side has not asked for zero enrichment” of uranium, contradicting statements from American officials.

Iran denies it is trying to produce nuclear weapons, but insists on its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes.

The US media outlet Axios reported this week, citing an unnamed senior US official, that Washington was prepared to consider a proposed deal that only permitted “small, token enrichment”.

Trump has suggested that “bad things” will happen if Tehran did not strike a deal, saying on Thursday that it had 10 days to agree.

Fears of a conflict have prompted several foreign countries to urge their citizens to leave Iran, including Sweden, Serbia, Poland and Australia, which warned “commercial flights are currently available but this could change quickly”.

A previous round of nuclear diplomacy last year was interrupted by Israel’s surprise bombing campaign against the Islamic republic.

The US ultimately joined its ally, striking nuclear facilities before declaring a ceasefire.

Iran has maintained that it will defend itself in the event of any new attack.

President Masoud Pezeshkian, in remarks to athletes carried by state television, said the country would “not yield to any trial, even if the powers of the world stand against us with injustice and try to force us into submission”.

For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.