Students clashed with both security forces and pro-government counter-protesters at universities in Tehran and Mashhad on Sunday, February 22, 2026, as Iranian institutions of higher education reopened following a month of nationwide demonstrations, according to reports from state news agencies and international observers.
The protests, which erupted during 40-day memorial observances for those killed in January’s anti-government rallies, reflect a deepening sense of discontent within Iran, compounded by economic hardship and escalating tensions with the United States. The demonstrations took place at at least five universities in Tehran and one in Mashhad, the Associated Press reported, though the Iranian government has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the renewed unrest.
The current wave of protests builds on a pattern of student activism that has historically served as a catalyst for broader dissent in Iran. Universities were central to the 1999 student unrest and the nationwide demonstrations following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022. The latest demonstrations are fueled by a combination of grievances, including renewed enforcement of morality policing on campuses, the installation of surveillance systems, and the continued detention of student activists, Firstpost reported. Economic desperation similarly plays a significant role, with students expressing frustration over a bleak job market and runaway inflation.
“We study for a future that does not exist,” read one placard displayed at Tehran University, highlighting the sense of hopelessness felt by many Iranian youth. The protests are occurring as the Trump administration continues its “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, issuing diplomatic deadlines regarding its nuclear program and increasing its military presence in the Persian Gulf. A billboard in Tehran’s Enqelab-e-Eslami Square depicts a damaged U.S. Aircraft carrier with the warning, “If you sow the wind, you’ll reap the whirlwind,” according to the Associated Press, underscoring the heightened tensions between the two countries.
Clashes between anti-establishment students and those affiliated with the paramilitary Basij organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were reported at several universities, Al Jazeera reported. Security forces were also heavily present, and some were reportedly verbally abused by students. The scale of the protests and the government’s response remain unclear, with limited independent reporting from within Iran.
As universities reopened, the Iranian government has not commented on the latest protests, leaving the future course of the demonstrations and the potential for further escalation uncertain. Negotiations between the U.S. And Iran regarding the nuclear program are scheduled to resume Thursday in Geneva, with Washington awaiting a proposed deal from Tehran.
