University students are protesting against the general state of affairs in Iran. A Telegram channel for Iranian students, called Anjmotahed, has said that an attack by a state-backed militia at Sharif University in Tehran left several students injured
The Iranian government has said that while students in the country have the right to protest, they must “understand the red lines”. The comments came after
protests in Iran entered their third day.
“Sacred things and the flag are two examples of these red lines that we must protect and not cross or deviate from, even at the height of anger,” government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said Tuesday.
She added that Iran’s students “have wounds in their hearts and have seen scenes that may upset and anger them; this anger is understandable”.
The protests have added to the crisis Iran is facing from both within and from the outside as it tries to keep US forces at bay. Washington has increased its military presence and intensified pressure in West Asia amid negotiations with Tehran, with the next round set to take place in Geneva this week. US President Donald Trump has warned that “really bad things will happen” if no agreement is reached.
Why are students protesting?
University students are protesting against the general state of affairs in Iran. A Telegram channel for Iranian students, called Anjmotahed, has said that an attack by a state-backed militia at Sharif University in Tehran left several students injured.
In an effort to mock Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, some students climbed trees on campus and hung toy mice from the branches, a symbolic jab suggesting he was hiding underground like a mouse. According to reports, demonstrators chanted “death to the dictator,” “for every one killed, a thousand will follow,” and “the blood that has been spilled will never be washed away.”
Student representatives who met Iran’s vice-president, Mohammad Reza Aref, over the weekend told him it was offensive to attribute the January protest killings to terrorists. “The response to the people’s protests had been given in bullets,” they said.
Iran-US talks
Iranian officials held out hope for progress towards a deal to forestall fresh conflict when talks with US negotiators resume on Thursday, despite a huge build-up of American military might in the Middle East.
Speaking to CBS News on Sunday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said details of a possible deal were being drawn up ahead of the renewed talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme, after Washington’s envoy Steve Witkoff had publicly wondered why Tehran had not yet “capitulated”.
Badr Albusaidi, foreign minister of regional mediator Oman, said talks would resume on Thursday in Geneva “with a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalising the deal”.
With inputs from agencies
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