Students at Sharif University of Technology chanted “Death to Khamenei” at Basij members who confronted them during a protest on Saturday, according to a video received by Iran International. https://t.co/JufZFCAIYM pic.twitter.com/qa66Tbj4CP
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) February 21, 2026
The protests—which erupted as students returned to campus for the first time since the regime killed more than 20,000 demonstrators in January—quickly turned violent when regime security forces and government allies attacked the crowd.
در دومین روز از دور تازه اعتراضات دانشجویی، گزارشها و تصاویری از درگیری دانشجویان معترض و بسیجیان در دانشگاه امیرکبیر منتشر شده است.
— RadioFarda|راديو فردا (@RadioFarda_) February 22, 2026
در یکی از ویدئوهایی که از دانشگاه امیرکبیر (پلی تکنیک) در روز یکشنبه سوم اسفند منتشر شده مشاهده میشود که نیروهای موسوم به بسیج که از روز گذشته… pic.twitter.com/cnbdd4lQj6
The Iranian government's move to violently suppress the protests suggests it fears further civil unrest after January's large-scale uprising. Students have traditionally been at the forefront of mass movements in the country, and a new wave of protests would further destabilize Tehran's hardline regime—and could expedite its demise should the Trump administration take military action against the Islamic Republic in the coming days or weeks. Trump is reportedly considering a range of options that includes "tak[ing] out the ayatollah and his son and the mullahs," one administration official told Axios. The administration is also reportedly weighing options like striking remaining nuclear facilities and internal security infrastructure after the largest U.S. military buildup in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The Iranian regime is expected to send a nuclear deal proposal to the United States by Tuesday in what may be a final push before a military operation.
Alireza Nader, a veteran Iran analyst tracking the uprisings, told the Washington Free Beacon that the regime is particularly worried about student-led uprisings.
"Iranian students have been at the forefront of revolutionary change in Iran for decades," Nader said. "They spearheaded the 1979 revolution, and they are playing an important role against the regime on the streets today. The regime fears student groups for their potential to trigger protests and mobilize the masses. That's why we see the Basij paramilitary forces attack students on the streets today."
شرح وقایع دانشگاه شریف شنبه ۲ اسفند ۱۴۰۴:
— مملکته (@mamlekate) February 21, 2026
«تجمع تقریبا از روبه روی سلف شروع شد. بچهها هماهنگ کرده بودن که مشکی بپوشن برای کشته شده ها. جمعیت شروع کرد به سمت حرکت به سردر جنوب خیابون آزادی.
بسیجیا هم بهشون خبر رسید و اومدن با پرچم ایران و یه پلاکارد که به نتانیاهو و ترامپ… https://t.co/jkFwIdQ93s pic.twitter.com/petZwyJ7ac
"When the chants turned toward cursing Khamenei, a small scuffle would break out but security would separate them," wrote one of those in attendance on X. "The scuffle gradually escalated and the kids snatched a few Islamic Republic flags from the Basij during the fight and used their batons against them, beating the Basij with them. I myself saw a chubby Basij pull a knife and throw it toward our kids' crowd."
The regime has to this point refrained from imposing an internet blackout like it did in January, and videos of the protests have quickly spread across social media.
Basij forces increased their presence on Sunday at Amir Kabir University of Technology in Tehran and clashed with students, according to Radio Farda. As of Sunday afternoon, protests were still occurring at both Sharif and Amirkabir universities, as well as the University of Tehran, Shahid Beheshti University, and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.
A State Department spokesman confirmed to the Free Beacon that Trump is considering a variety of options for dealing with the Iranian regime.
"The Iranian people want and deserve a better life," the spokesman said. "As the president said, 'they've lived in hell.' The Iranian regime has consistently neglected the Iranian people's needs and squandered Iran’s vast wealth on terrorist proxies, ballistic missiles, and nuclear weapons research. We will continue to support the people of Iran against the regime's continued abuses and repression. The president has a range of options on the table."
