Iranian students clashed with counter-protesters and chanted anti-government slogans at several universities on Saturday, signalling fresh unrest against the country’s clerical leadership even as Tehran faces mounting external pressure tied to nuclear negotiations.
Videos circulating online showed protests at major campuses in Tehran and Mashhad, with demonstrators chanting slogans such as “Death to Khamenei" and “Freedom". Some voices in the crowd could also be heard urging US action. Another clip from Sharif University of Technology showed students chanting against the supreme leader as tensions flared on campus.
News18 could not independently verify the videos.
The gatherings, reported by local and diaspora media outlets, come weeks after a mass protest wave that triggered a sweeping government crackdown last month.
That crackdown left thousands dead, according to human rights groups, deepening domestic tensions and drawing global scrutiny.
The unrest has unfolded alongside heightened US pressure on Tehran. President Donald Trump had earlier threatened military intervention following the crackdown, though Washington’s focus has since shifted to Iran’s nuclear programme, which Western governments fear could be aimed at developing a bomb.
The United States and Iran have recently resumed Oman-mediated talks aimed at reaching a deal, even as Washington boosts its military posture in the region. The US has deployed two aircraft carriers along with fighter jets and additional weaponry, signalling both diplomatic engagement and deterrence.
THREAD: Verified videos of anti-government protests in Iran on 21 February Protests broke out today at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, with students chanting slogans against the supreme leader.
Location:https://t.co/[email protected]/9SArLwfbOp
— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86)February 21, 2026
Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News
