Several demonstrations took place at universities in the Iranian capital, Tehran, for the second day in a row.
Iranian state media reported demonstrations in support of the government and against the United States, following protests against the regime on Saturday (22).
Hossein Goldansaz, a professor at the University of Tehran, told the official Mehr news agency that the university was affected by the period of mourning for the victims.
“One of the students’ main points is that we are mourning the people who lost their lives in these events, those who were our friends,” he said.
“We will allow them to hold their demonstrations at the university and, if someone asks us for permission, we will grant it, as long as they respect the established limits,” said Goldansaz.
“Students must be very careful not to incite violence and I have told them that if that happens, I will not support them in any way,” he added.
Students staged protests at several Iranian universities at the start of the new semester on Saturday, some clashing with pro-government groups, Reuters reported.
The protests coincided with ceremonies traditionally held after 40 days to honor the victims of security forces killed during demonstrations.
A video circulating on social media reportedly shows groups of protesters at Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology criticizing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a “murderous leader” and calling for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s deposed shah, to take the throne.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump stated that 32,000 people had been killed, a much higher death toll than previously reported.
The United States has been strengthening its presence in the Middle East in recent weeks, increasing pressure on Iran as Trump weighs a possible attack on the country.
The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group is currently en route to the region to join another aircraft carrier strike group, with dozens of combat aircraft also deployed to the region.
