TEHRAN – Iranian students clashed with counter-protesters on Saturday, chanting anti-government slogans in a renewed display of anger towards the country’s clerical leadership. The demonstrations occurred as the United States bolstered its military presence in the region, aiming to pressure Iran into agreeing to a nuclear deal.
The university protests, reported by both local and diaspora media, follow a wave of demonstrations last month that were met with a forceful government crackdown resulting in numerous deaths. Students specifically called for the United States to support efforts to remove Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from power, according to reports.
The crackdown prompted threats of military intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump, though the focus of those threats has since shifted to Iran’s nuclear program, which Western governments fear is intended to produce nuclear weapons. Negotiations mediated by Oman have recently resumed between the U.S. And Iran, but Washington has simultaneously increased its military footprint in the region, deploying two aircraft carriers, fighter jets, and additional weaponry to underscore its warnings.
Video footage verified by the Associated Press and originating from the Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, showed scuffles breaking out amongst crowds as protesters chanted “bi sharaf,” meaning “shameful” in Persian. Iran International, a Persian-language television channel broadcasting from outside the country, also posted video showing large crowds chanting anti-government slogans at the same university.
The renewed protests coincide with the 40th day since the peak of demonstrations on January 8 and 9, a period of mourning and remembrance in Iranian tradition. Students gathered at several universities in the capital on Saturday, according to local media reports.
The initial unrest in December stemmed from prolonged economic hardship, but quickly escalated into widespread anti-government demonstrations that were suppressed by security forces. Demonstrations also occurred at the Shahid Beheshti University and the Amir Kabir University of Technology in Tehran, with reports of students shouting slogans against the government. In Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, students chanted “Freedom, freedom” and urged their peers to “shout, shout for your rights,” according to reports.
As of Sunday, February 22, 2026, the number of arrests made during the current wave of protests remains unclear.
