Iranian college students chanted anti-government slogans and scuffled with counter-protesters on Saturday within the newest show of anger on the nation’s clerical leaders, who additionally face a U.S. navy build-up aimed toward pressuring them right into a nuclear deal.
The gatherings at universities, which had been reported by each native and diaspora media shops, adopted a mass protest motion that was met with a authorities crackdown final month that left 1000’s useless.
The crackdown had prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to threaten to intervene militarily, although the main focus of his threats ultimately shifted to Iran’s nuclear programme, which Western governments concern is aimed toward producing a bomb.
The U.S. and Iran just lately resumed Oman-mediated talks on a possible deal, however Washington has concurrently elevated its navy presence within the area, dispatching two plane carriers, jets and weaponry to again its warnings.
Movies geolocated by AFP to Tehran’s prime engineering college confirmed fights breaking out in a crowd on Saturday as folks shouted “bi sharaf”, or “disgraceful” in Farsi.
Footage posted by the Persian-language TV channel Iran Worldwide, which relies exterior the nation, additionally confirmed a big crowd chanting anti-government slogans at Sharif College of Expertise.
The Fars information company later mentioned there have been stories of accidents in scuffles on the establishment.
Iranians had reprised their protest slogans earlier this week to mark the fortieth day since 1000’s of individuals had been killed as a wave of demonstrations was peaking on January 8 and 9.
The unrest first broke out in December over extended monetary pressure, however exploded into mass anti-government protests that had been suppressed in a violent crackdown by safety forces.
The clerical authorities acknowledge greater than 3,000 deaths, however say the violence was brought on by “terrorist acts” fuelled by Iran’s enemies.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists Information Company (HRANA), nevertheless, has recorded greater than 7,000 killings within the crackdown, the overwhelming majority protesters, although the toll could also be far increased.
Iranian authorities had initially acknowledged the legitimacy of the protesters’ financial calls for, however because the motion took on an overtly anti-government tone, they accused archenemies the US and Israel of whipping up “riots”.
Fars mentioned that what was presupposed to be a “silent and peaceable sit-in” on Saturday of scholars commemorating these killed was disrupted by folks chanting slogans together with “dying to the dictator” — a reference to Iran’s supreme chief.
A video posted by Fars confirmed a bunch chanting and waving Iranian flags dealing with off with a crowd sporting masks and being held again by males in fits.
Talks and threats
Ever for the reason that preliminary wave of protests, the US and Iran have been buying and selling threats of navy motion.
Mr. Trump despatched the plane provider USS Abraham Lincoln to the area, whereas a second, the united statesGerald R Ford, is en route by way of the Mediterranean.
The US has additionally redeployed dozens of different warplanes to the Center East — the place it maintains a number of bases — whereas boosting its air defences.
The build-up seeks to stress Iran’s authorities as the 2 sides pursue nuclear talks.
Iranian Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi informed US media this week that following the newest spherical of negotiations in Geneva, Iran can be submitting a draft proposal for an settlement, saying it will be learn in a matter of days.
Araghchi additionally mentioned the “U.S. facet has not requested for zero enrichment” of uranium, contradicting statements from American officers.
Iran denies it’s making an attempt to provide nuclear weapons, however insists on its proper to counterpoint uranium for civilian functions.
The U.S. media outlet Axios reported this week, citing an unnamed senior U.S. official, that Washington was ready to think about a proposed deal that solely permitted “small, token enrichment”.
Mr. Trump has advised that “unhealthy issues” will occur if Tehran didn’t strike a deal, saying Thursday that it had 15 days to agree.
Fears of a battle have prompted a number of international international locations to induce their residents to depart Iran, together with Sweden, Serbia, Poland and Australia, which warned “business flights are presently obtainable however this might change rapidly”.
A earlier spherical of nuclear diplomacy final yr was interrupted by Israel’s shock bombing marketing campaign towards the Islamic republic.
The US finally joined its ally, putting nuclear amenities earlier than declaring a ceasefire.
Iran has maintained that it’ll defend itself within the occasion of any new assault.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, in remarks to athletes carried by state tv, mentioned the nation would “not yield to any trial, even when the powers of the world stand towards us with injustice and attempt to pressure us into submission”.
Revealed – February 22, 2026 10:21 am IST