Iranians caught between anger, fear and desire for change
Deutsche Welle
February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Iranians are navigating a complex emotional landscape of anger, fear, and a yearning for change as tensions between the US and Iran escalate. Amid fears of potential US military action, small-scale protests continue to erupt across universities, with students expressing frustration over government repression and chanting slogans like "Death to the Islamic Republic" or calling for the return of the monarchy under Reza Pahlavi. These demonstrations, while smaller in scale than last month's nationwide unrest, reflect a deep-seated disillusionment among Iranians, many of whom feel that any hope for reform has been extinguished.
The ongoing protests are particularly concentrated on university campuses, where Basij militia members—paramilitary forces within the Revolutionary Guards—are closely monitoring student activities. Eyewitness accounts and videos shared online reveal clashes between students and Basij members, who have been tasked with tracking attendance at protests and maintaining control over university grounds. This heightened surveillance underscores the regime's efforts to suppress dissent, even as students continue
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Originally published on Deutsche Welle on 2/24/2026