Iran Campus Protests Resurface as Nuclear Talks Continue Under U.S. Military Pressure

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – Anti-government protests have erupted at multiple Iranian universities, marking the largest campus demonstrations since January’s deadly nationwide crackdown, as nuclear negotiations with the United States proceed under the shadow of possible military action.

The BBC verified footage showing hundreds of demonstrators marching Saturday at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran at the start of a new academic term. Protesters chanted “death to the dictator,” a reference to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, before scuffles broke out between anti-government students and rival pro-government supporters waving Iranian flags.

Verified images also showed a peaceful sit-in at Shahid Beheshti University, while additional footage confirmed protests at Amir Kabir University of Technology. In Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, students reportedly chanted “Freedom, freedom” and “Students, shout for your rights.”

Iran’s state news agency acknowledged demonstrations at five universities in Tehran and one in Mashhad. The Associated Press reported that the scattered protests followed 40-day memorials for those killed during January’s unrest, in line with Shiite mourning tradition.

Death Toll Disputed

January’s demonstrations began over economic grievances before evolving into the largest anti-government protests since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says it has confirmed at least 7,015 deaths during the crackdown, including 6,508 protesters and 226 children, and is investigating thousands more reports. Iranian authorities, however, say more than 3,100 people were killed, claiming many were security personnel or civilians attacked by “rioters.”

It remains unclear whether arrests have followed the latest campus protests, though reports indicate demonstrations continued into Sunday.

Nuclear Talks and Military Warnings

The renewed unrest comes as Washington and Tehran hold talks aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program. U.S. and Iranian officials met in Switzerland this week and described progress in negotiations.

However, President Donald Trump said the world would know “over the next, probably, 10 days” whether a deal would be reached — or whether the U.S. would take military action.

The United States and European allies suspect Iran is advancing toward a nuclear weapon, an allegation Tehran has consistently denied.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News that President Trump was “curious” why Iran had not “capitulated” in the face of America’s military buildup, though he emphasized the president has multiple options available.

Meanwhile, exiled opposition figures have called on Washington to follow through on strike threats in hopes of toppling the clerical regime. Other opposition groups, however, warn against foreign intervention, as rival narratives circulate widely on social media.

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