Tensions escalated in Iran on Sunday as anti-government protests erupted at universities and in the streets of Tehran. There were reports of tear gas and gunfire in the capital.
Students convened in Tehran and Mashhad, marking 40 days since the deaths during anti-government protests earlier this year. Ali Safavi, a member of Iran’s parliament in exile, mentioned that chants like “This is the year of blood” echoed through Tehran University as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps opened fire on demonstrators elsewhere.
According to Safavi, students at Qajer Nasir University trampled photos of Ayatollah Khamenei, a sentiment mirrored at Ferdowsi University and Sajjad University.
“Students cried out ‘Death to the oppressors, be it the shah or the leader,'” he noted. Meanwhile, on Vali Asr Street, troops shot at the crowds, which largely comprised youth.
Safavi also reported the presence of motorcycle squads from resistance groups parading through parts of Tehran, waving the flag of the National Liberation Army, affiliated with the Iranian National Council of Resistance.
Online statements from the student groups criticized the government’s attempt to quell dissent. They expressed their collective experience with oppression and reaffirmed their rejection of any form of authoritarian rule, whether disguised with religious or military imagery.
Meanwhile, Iranian state TV broadcast footage alleging that individuals posing as students attacked their pro-government counterparts, reportedly throwing rocks and injuring others.
Witnesses reported that security forces responded strongly, deploying tear gas against demonstrators, many of whom were young people. Demonstrators also confront those pro-regime supporters who appeared on the scene.
As authorities attempted to disperse the gathering, shots were reportedly fired. The disturbances extended beyond campus boundaries into nearby streets.
The renewed protests represent one of the most visible signs of unrest since the January crackdown. They occur during heightened tensions, with potential military operations from the United States looming and negotiations concerning Iran’s nuclear program ongoing.
