Iranian university students staged fresh rallies on Sunday for the second consecutive day, honouring those killed in recent nationwide protests while both pro- and anti-government groups clashed on campuses. The demonstrations unfolded against a backdrop of heightened anxiety over the possibility of renewed military confrontation with the United States stemming from Iran’s nuclear programme.
The unrest traces back to December, when economic difficulties under heavy international sanctions ignited initial demonstrations. These swiftly grew into widespread anti-government protests, posing one of the most serious threats to the Islamic Republic’s clerical rule in recent years.
Campus gatherings on Saturday had already commemorated the protest victims. On Sunday, Iran’s Fars news agency released videos showing crowds of dozens at universities in Tehran, many waving national flags and holding photographs in memory of the fallen. At Sharif University of Technology, one clip captured students chanting “death to the shah”—a reference to the pre-1979 monarchy—while confronting an opposing group, with uniformed personnel separating the sides. Fars reported “tensions” at least three Tehran universities, where some participants voiced anti-establishment slogans.
Iran International, an overseas-based outlet designated a “terrorist” organisation by Tehran, circulated social media footage of students at Sharif displaying the pre-revolution flag, alongside scenes from other higher education institutions. An AFP-geolocated video from Sharif depicted a substantial crowd chanting against the authorities while surrounding peers waving the old monarchical banner.
Official figures acknowledge over 3,000 deaths during the unrest, including security personnel and civilians, attributing the violence to “terrorist acts” orchestrated by foreign adversaries. In contrast, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has documented more than 7,000 killings, predominantly among protesters, with the true count potentially higher.
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Diplomatically, US and Iranian representatives recently concluded a second round of Oman-mediated nuclear discussions in Geneva. Iran has indicated it will submit a draft proposal soon to avert military escalation. Axios, citing a senior US official, reported that Washington stands prepared for further talks in Geneva on Friday should the proposal arrive within the next 48 hours.
The US has reinforced its regional presence with two aircraft carriers, additional aircraft, vessels, and strengthened air defences across the Middle East. In a Fox News interview, Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s chief Middle East negotiator, expressed puzzlement over Iran’s reluctance to yield under such pressure, questioning why Tehran had not offered assurances against weapon development.
Iran continues to reject accusations of pursuing nuclear weapons, while defending its uranium enrichment for peaceful civilian use. A prior diplomatic effort was derailed last year by Israel’s bombing campaign against Iran, triggering a 12-day conflict in June that briefly drew US strikes on nuclear sites.
Despite ongoing negotiations, public apprehension in Iran has intensified. Residents interviewed by AFP described sleepless nights and preparations for potential war. Several nations, including Sweden, Serbia, Poland, and Australia, have advised citizens to depart, warning that commercial flights could soon become unavailable.
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