Iran students stage first large anti-government protests since deadly crackdown

Source: Hacker News

Campus protests

• The BBC verified footage shows hundreds of demonstrators marching on the campus of Sharif University of Technology in Tehran at the start of a new semester.
• The crowds chanted “death to the dictator,” referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with other anti‑government slogans.
• A separate group of pro‑government supporters, many carrying Iranian national flags, were seen nearby, and scuffles later broke out between the two camps.
• Verified photos also show a peaceful sit‑in protest at Shahid Beheshti University in the capital.
• BBC‑verified footage from Amir Kabir University of Technology shows chanting against the government.
• In Mashhad, Iran’s second‑largest city, local students reportedly chanted “Freedom, freedom” and “Students, shout, shout for your rights.”

It is not immediately clear whether any demonstrators have been arrested, but reports indicate that protests continued on Sunday.

International reactions

• The United States and its European allies suspect that Iran is moving toward the development of a nuclear weapon, a claim Iran has consistently denied.
• U.S. and Iranian officials met in Switzerland, saying progress had been made in talks aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear programme.
• Despite the reported progress, former President Donald Trump said the world would find out “over the next, probably, 10 days” whether a deal would be reached or the U.S. would take military action.
• The U.S. has historically expressed support for Iranian protesters, at one point promising that “help is on its way.”

Casualties and death toll

• The U.S.–based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) confirmed at least 7,015 deaths during the January wave of protests, including 6,508 protesters, 226 children, and 214 individuals affiliated with the government (figures updated 15 February).
• HRANA is also investigating an additional 11,744 reported deaths.
• Iranian authorities later claimed that more than 3,100 people had been killed, stating that the majority were security personnel or bystanders attacked by “rioters.”

U.S. political commentary

• U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said on Saturday that President Trump was questioning why Iran had not “capitulated” in the face of Washington’s military build‑up.
• Witkoff told Fox News that the president was “curious” about Iran’s position after warning of severe consequences if a deal was not reached.
• He added: “I don’t want to use the word ‘frustrated,’ because he understands he has plenty of alternatives, but he’s curious as to why they haven’t… I don’t want to use the word ‘capitulated,’ but why they haven’t capitulated.”

Opposition perspectives

• Exiled opposition groups are urging President Trump to act on his threats, hoping for a rapid downfall of the current hard‑line government.
• Other opposition factions oppose outside intervention, warning that foreign involvement could exacerbate the situation.
• Both sides have engaged in disinformation campaigns on social media, each trying to shape narratives about what the Iranian people want.

Updates

Additional reporting by BBC Persian’s Ghoncheh Habibiazad, and BBC Verify’s Richard Irvine‑Brown and Shayan Sardarizadeh.
Update 22 February: This article was updated to clarify that individuals shown in the video holding Iranian national flags were part of a pro‑government rally, separate from the nearby anti‑government protest.