Headlines
Iranian students begin new university term with protests
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 21, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 21, 2026
Tags:emerging markets
Quick Summary
Students at several Iranian universities launched protests as the new term began, with some clashes involving Basij groups. Chants targeted Khamenei, while rights groups reported unrest across multiple cities.
Iranian Students Launch New Term with Campus Protests, Clashes Erupt
Campus Unrest and Political Context
DUBAI, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Students held protests at several Iranian universities at the start of a new semester on Saturday, some clashing with pro-government groups, according to local news agencies and posts on social media.
The protests coincided with ceremonies traditionally held after 40 days to mourn those killed by security forces during last month's anti-government demonstrations, which saw thousands lose their lives in the worst domestic unrest since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Sharif University footage
Slogans and Opposition Calls
A video purportedly showed rows of marchers at Tehran's Sharif University of Technology condemning Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a "murderous leader", and calling for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's toppled shah, to be a new monarch.
Role of Basij Student Militia
Clashes Reported on Campuses
State-affiliated news agencies such as SNN carried videos of clashes, with protesters allegedly injuring volunteer student Basij militia by throwing rocks at Iran's top engineering university. Pro-government Basij members often assist security forces in quelling protests.
Rights Groups' Videos
Universities and Cities Involved
Protests were also held in Beheshti and Amir Kabir universities in the capital Tehran and Mashhad University in the northeast, according to videos published by rights group HAALVSH, which Reuters could not verify.
Western Town of Abdanan
In the western town of Abdanan, a hotspot for protests, demonstrators chanted "Death to Khamenei" and "Death to the dictator" after the arrest of an activist teacher, according to rights group Hengaw and social media posts.
(Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Jan Harvey)
Key Takeaways
- •Student protests erupted at multiple Iranian universities as the new semester began.
- •Clashes were reported with pro-government Basij groups, including at Sharif University.
- •Chants targeted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; some invoked Reza Pahlavi.
- •Unrest was noted at Beheshti, Amir Kabir, and Mashhad universities; some videos were unverified.
- •Abdanan saw chants after an activist teacher’s arrest, per rights groups HAALVSH and Hengaw.
Frequently Asked Questions about Iranian students begin new university term with protests
1What is the main topic?
Students in Iran began the new university term with protests across several campuses. Reports noted clashes with pro-government Basij groups and chants critical of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
2Where did the protests occur?
Demonstrations were reported at Tehran’s Sharif, Beheshti, and Amir Kabir universities, as well as Mashhad University and the western town of Abdanan.
3Who was involved in clashes?
Pro-government Basij members and student protesters reportedly clashed at some campuses, with stones allegedly thrown at Sharif University according to state-affiliated media.
