Tehran, Iran – Student marches and sit-ins took place at several universities in the Iranian capital, Tehran. Participants chanted slogans against the country’s leadership. Meanwhile, some students clashed with pro-government groups. These events occurred during commemorations marking the 40th day since the deaths of protesters killed in recent demonstrations.
University sit-ins
Videos, identified by AFP as being filmed at a prestigious engineering university, showed clashes between pro- and anti-government students. The Fars news agency reported that a student sit-in was held at Sharif University of Technology. Some students chanted monarchist slogans, while others carried the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran and chanted revolutionary slogans. This led to visible tension between the two sides.
Background of the protests
The protests began in late December and escalated on January 8, with demands expanding to include broader political grievances. According to Iranian authorities, the demonstrations resulted in over 3,000 deaths. The authorities claimed that the majority of the victims were security personnel or bystanders killed by gunfire from what they termed “terrorists” affiliated with the United States and Israel. International human rights organizations, however, maintain that the majority of those killed were peaceful protesters. Estimates suggest the death toll could reach over 7,000.
Political and international challenges
These demonstrations come at a sensitive time for Iranian foreign policy. There is increasing pressure to reach a nuclear agreement with the United States, while Washington is deploying troops near the Iranian border. US President Donald Trump has also threatened military action against Tehran if the crackdown on protesters continues.
Calls for transparency and dialogue
Calls have been renewed from both inside and outside Iran to ensure respect for the rights of students and protesters, and to create space for political dialogue. These calls also emphasized the need to avoid any escalation that could lead to further loss of life or strain international relations.
