Iranian students stage protests nationwide, clashes erupt

Footage published by Fars showed two opposing groups facing one another, some waving Iranian flags and others wearing masks, while men in suits attempted to keep them apart.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

University campuses across Iran saw renewed anti-government demonstrations Saturday as students marked the 40-day mourning period for those killed in last month’s crackdown, with confrontations reported between protesters, regime supporters and security forces in Tehran and Mashhad, according to Iranian and diaspora media and footage verified by AFP.

Video geolocated by AFP showed unrest at Tehran’s main engineering university, where clashes broke out in dense crowds and chants of “bi sharaf,” meaning “disgraceful” in Farsi, could be heard.

Separate footage aired by the dissident broadcaster Iran International showed large numbers of students gathering at Sharif University of Technology, chanting slogans against the clerical leadership.

Iran International reported that students confronted members of the Basij paramilitary force, shouting “death” to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and “long live the king,” a reference to Iran’s pre-1979 monarchy.

The outlet also said demonstrations took place at Amirkabir University of Technology, where similar chants were heard. It later cited a student union statement saying security forces blocked campus exits and detained students.

State-aligned Fars news agency gave a different account, saying a planned “silent and peaceful sit-in” commemorating students killed last month was disrupted by anti-regime chanting.

Footage published by Fars showed two opposing groups facing one another, some waving Iranian flags and others wearing masks, while men in suits attempted to keep them apart. Both sides appeared to be holding memorial photographs.

At Sharif University, Iran International quoted university president Masoud Tajrishi as calling for a firm response to unrest. “The enemy wants the university to become virtual, but we will not allow it,” he was quoted as saying. “We want to show that we can manage the university. Anyone who carries out illegal acts at the university must be dealt with.”

Further protests were reported at Beheshti University in Tehran, where students held a sit-in in solidarity with those killed or imprisoned during the crackdown, according to a student union statement cited by Iran International.

In Mashhad, footage published by the outlet showed students at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences chanting “freedom.”

The demonstrations came amid sharply conflicting claims over the death toll from the crackdown that peaked on January 8 and 9.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has recorded more than 7,000 killings, while Iran International has put the figure at more than 36,000. Iranian authorities acknowledge more than 3,000 deaths, saying the violence resulted from “terrorist acts.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the unrest Saturday on state television, saying, “World powers are lining up to force us to bow our heads… but we will not bow our heads despite all the problems that they are creating for us.”