Protests Erupt in Tehran as U.S. Considers Military Action Against Iran
TEHRAN, Iran – Clashes between protesters and security forces broke out at universities in Tehran over the weekend, fueled by anger over a deadly government crackdown last month. Students chanted slogans including “death to Khamenei,” targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to reports.
Footage circulating on social media showed violent confrontations at the Sharif University of Technology, with some protesters sustaining head injuries. Demonstrations were also reported at the Amir Kabir University of Technology and the University of Tehran.
The protests follow a brutal suppression of dissent in January, described as resulting in thousands of deaths, though specific figures remain contested.
The unrest unfolds as tensions with the United States escalate. U.S. President Donald Trump indicated Friday he is “considering” military action against Iran, even as diplomatic efforts continue. Iran’s top diplomat has stated Tehran expects to present a proposed deal in the coming days regarding its nuclear program.
The U.S. has been increasing its military presence in the Middle East in recent weeks. The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier passed Gibraltar on Saturday en route to the region, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group.
Trump has previously voiced support for regime change in Iran, stating on February 13th that such an outcome “would be the best thing that could happen” after decades of negotiations. He cited the loss of American lives as justification for a stronger stance.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian struck a defiant tone Saturday, speaking to Paralympic athletes. “We will not bow our heads in the face of these problems,” he said, adding that Iran would “sacrifice our lives for our country” and would not submit to external pressure.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, and previously served as the country’s president from 1981 to 1989. He is described as an implacable foe of the United States, having navigated previous periods of unrest and foreign pressure during his 36-year rule.
