Iranian students chanted anti-government slogans and clashed with counter-protesters on Saturday, the latest show of anger at the country's clerical leaders, as the United States ramps up its military presence in the region to pressure Tehran into a nuclear deal.
The rallies at Iranian universities, reported by local and diaspora media, followed the massive protest movement that was suppressed by the government last month, leaving thousands dead.
These repressions had prompted then-US President Donald Trump to threaten military intervention, although he later shifted the focus of the threats to Iran's nuclear program, which Western governments fear is aimed at producing a bomb.
The US and Iran recently resumed talks facilitated by Oman on a possible deal, while Washington has increased its military presence in the region, sending two aircraft carriers, jets and weapons to back up its warnings.
Geolocated videos by AFP at Tehran University of Technology showed clashes in a crowd on Saturday, as students chanted "bi sharaf," which means "without honor" in Persian.
Other footage from the Persian-language television channel Iran International, based abroad, showed a large crowd chanting anti-government slogans at Sharif University of Technology.
The Fars news agency later reported that there were injuries during clashes at the institution. Iranians renewed protest slogans earlier this week, marking the 40th anniversary of the deaths of thousands of people during a wave of demonstrations on January 8 and 9.
The violence had initially erupted in December over financial pressure but escalated into massive anti-government protests that were violently suppressed by security forces. Clerical authorities acknowledged over 3,000 deaths but said the violence was caused by “terrorist acts” instigated by Iran’s enemies.
The US-based HRANA agency has recorded over 7,000 deaths in the crackdown on protests, the vast majority of them protesters, but the real number could be much higher.
Iranian authorities initially acknowledged the legitimacy of the protesters' economic demands, but as the movement took on an openly anti-government tone, they accused their arch-enemies, the US and Israel, of fomenting "trouble."
Fars news agency reported that what was expected to be a “calm and peaceful vigil” on Saturday to commemorate the dead was disrupted by people chanting slogans such as “death to the dictator” — a reference to Iran’s supreme leader. A video posted by Fars showed a group cheering and waving Iranian flags, facing a masked crowd held back by men in suits.
Talks and threats
Since the start of the wave of protests, the US and Iran have exchanged threats of military action. Trump sent the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the region, while another, the USS Gerald R Ford, was en route through the Mediterranean.
The US has also redeployed dozens of fighter jets to the Middle East and strengthened air defenses, seeking to put pressure on Iranian authorities as the two sides continue nuclear talks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said this week that after the latest round of negotiations in Geneva, Iran would submit a draft proposal for an agreement, which would be read within days. He added that “the American side has not demanded zero enrichment” of uranium, contradicting statements by American officials.
Iran denies it is trying to produce nuclear weapons but insists on its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes. US media reported this week that Washington was willing to consider a deal that allowed only “small symbolic enrichment.”
Trump suggested that "bad things" would happen if Tehran did not reach a deal, saying it had 15 days to comply.
Fears of a conflict have led several foreign countries to advise their citizens to leave Iran, including Sweden, Serbia, Poland and Australia, warning that "commercial flights are currently available, but this could change quickly."
A previous round of nuclear diplomacy last year was interrupted by Israel's surprise attacks on the Islamic Republic. The US then cooperated with its ally, striking nuclear facilities before declaring a ceasefire.
Iran has stressed that it will defend itself in the event of a new attack.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, in speeches to athletes broadcast on state television, said the country "will not surrender to any test, even if the powers of the world stand against us unjustly and try to force us into submission."/AFP
