Iran Warns Students After Campus Protests

Iranian authorities issued a restrained warning to students participating in anti-government rallies on Tuesday, as the country faces pressure from recent mass protests and renewed tensions with the United States over its nuclear program.

The new semester began over the weekend with university students reviving slogans from nationwide demonstrations against the clerical leadership that peaked in January. Those earlier protests were met with a deadly government crackdown.

On Monday, the third day of campus protests, videos verified by AFP showed students at a Tehran university burning Iran’s post-1979 revolution flag.

Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani offered the first official comment on the rallies, emphasizing that while students have a right to protest, they must "understand the red lines." She added that the national flag is one such line that must not be crossed, even in anger.

Mohajerani acknowledged the frustrations of students, noting, “Iranian students have wounds in their hearts and have seen scenes that may upset and anger them; this anger is understandable.”

The wave of protests originally began in December due to economic difficulties in the sanctions-hit country, escalating into nationwide demonstrations on January 8 and 9, challenging Iran’s leadership and resulting in a deadly crackdown.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports more than 7,000 deaths, though the true toll may be higher. Iranian authorities recognize over 3,000 deaths, attributing the violence to "terrorist acts" influenced by the United States and Israel.

Mohajerani said a fact-finding mission is now investigating the causes of the protests and will release detailed reports.