Student protests in Iran are spreading like wildfire, and the government’s response is sparking even more outrage. Verified footage reveals that anti-government demonstrations, led by students, have now engulfed at least 13 universities across the country since Saturday. But here’s where it gets controversial: among these institutions is the Sajjad University of Technology in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, where students were filmed chanting against the Basij force—a paramilitary group tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This isn’t just a protest; it’s a direct challenge to one of the regime’s most powerful arms. And this is the part most people miss: while some students boldly shout “long live the Shah,” others wave the flag of the Islamic Republic, turning campuses into battlegrounds of ideology. Footage from the Shandiz Institute of Higher Education in Mashhad and Khajeh Nasir University in Tehran paints a similar picture of defiance and division. Science Minister Hossein Simaei-Sarraf has vowed to crack down on any “rioting,” but will this only fuel the flames? As we continue to monitor and verify new videos, one question lingers: Are these protests a sign of Iran’s youth demanding change, or a prelude to deeper unrest? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation that needs your voice.
