'Death to the dictator': Month after deadly crackdown, protests flare up in Iran again - Watch
Times of India
by TOI WORLD DESKFebruary 22, 2026
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Hundreds of students in Tehran and Mashhad have joined large-scale protests across Iranian university campuses, marking a significant escalation in tensions following a deadly crackdown last month. The demonstrations, which occurred over 40 days after the initial violence, saw students carrying national flags and chanting anti-government slogans, including "death to the dictator" directed at Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. These rallies, described as some of the largest student-led protests since December’s nationwide unrest, were met with a heavy-handed response from authorities, including Basij paramilitary forces, which clashed with protesters and forcibly dispersed gatherings.
The protests began on university campuses, with footage showing largely peaceful scenes at Sharif University of Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology, and medical sciences universities. However, tensions escalated as scuffles broke out between demonstrators and supporters of a rival pro-government rally nearby. In Mashhad, students chanted "Freedom, freedom" and urged others to stand up for their rights. While the full scale of arrests remains unclear, the footage highlights the ongoing frustration among Iran’s youth over economic grievances, including the rial’s collapse, which sparked December’s protests.
The latest unrest comes amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear program, with U.S. President Donald Trump considering potential military action. Iranian authorities have reported a death toll of over 3,100 since December, though human rights groups claim thousands more casualties, including children. These figures underscore the deepening crisis in Iran, where student-led protests are increasingly seen as a litmus test for domestic stability and international relations.
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/22/2026