Kanal13New protests against the ayatollah regime have erupted in Iran. These include student strikes, during which participants commemorate those killed during the suppression of the January protests. Students from several universities demonstrated, chanting slogans in memory of those killed during the suppression of protests last month and criticizing the actions of security forces. For example, at Amirkabir University of Technology in Tehran, some protesters dressed in black chanted “Long live the Shah,” referring to the heir to Iran’s last monarch, Reza Pahlavi.
Clashes broke out between students and members of the Basij militant organization, which is linked to the IRGC, at the Sharif University of Technology. In addition, students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences held sit-ins, declaring solidarity with the arrested protesters. Beyond university protests, protests are taking other forms. Activists report that in the evening, residents of some neighborhoods are shouting anti-government slogans from their balconies, including attacks on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Mourning ceremonies on the fortieth day after the deaths of protesters often turn into political memorial events. School strikes, known as “Empty Desks,” also took place in a number of cities. Their organizers claim they are honoring the memory of the fallen students and teachers.
The current protests have become the most visible manifestation of public discontent since the large-scale protests in January. The escalation of the domestic situation is taking place against the backdrop of increasing foreign policy pressure and rumors of a possible US military operation against the Islamic Republic. Recall, US has significantly increased the number of fighter aircraft at bases in Jordan and Saudi Arabia this month, as it assembles tremendous air power in the Middle East for a potential weeks-long military campaign against Iran, informs the Financial Times.
President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Iran unless the regime swiftly meets his demands for a deal aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear programme. He said the Islamic republic had a “maximum” of 15 days to reach a deal with the US or “bad things will happen.”
