Iran students resume protests after deadly January crackdown

Students at several major Iranian universities staged fresh anti-government protests on Saturday, 21 February 2026, marking the most visible return of campus unrest since the January crackdown that followed nationwide demonstrations.

Videos and images showed gatherings at Sharif University of Technology, Shahid Beheshti University, and Amir Kabir University of Technology in Tehran. Students chanted anti-government slogans and, in some instances, confronted groups described in local reports as government supporters.

Footage verified by international media showed hundreds of demonstrators marching on the Sharif University campus, while other clips captured scuffles near university buildings. Participants were heard shouting phrases associated with earlier protest waves.

Reports from Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, also described student gatherings, with videos circulated online showing crowds chanting calls for freedom and student rights. It was not immediately clear whether arrests were made.

The renewed rallies follow weeks of heightened tension after security forces suppressed protests that escalated in early January. Competing accounts of the death toll have since emerged, highlighting differences between official statements and figures cited by rights monitors.

Iranian authorities said more than 3,100 people were killed during the unrest, describing many of the victims as security personnel or civilians caught in violence blamed on what officials called foreign-backed rioters. Independent groups and diaspora-based organizations have reported higher casualty figures.

University protests have long played a symbolic role in Iran’s political landscape, often viewed as indicators of broader social unrest. The latest demonstrations coincided with memorial activities linked to those killed during January’s violence.

The protests unfolded amid continued tensions between Tehran and Washington. The United States has increased its military presence in the region while pursuing negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.

Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and maintains that its nuclear activities are for civilian purposes. Diplomatic efforts between the two countries continue.

Despite geopolitical pressures, Saturday’s demonstrations appeared centered on domestic grievances, echoing themes seen in previous protest cycles. Calls for further gatherings circulated online.

The January unrest grew out of economic frustrations before expanding into wider anti-government protests. Security measures during that period included arrests, internet restrictions, and the deployment of armed forces.

Student activism remains closely watched by authorities, with universities frequently becoming focal points during periods of political tension.