Iran protests: Students in Mashhad honor martyrs as regime officials warn of ‘historical turn’

2026-02-03 - 21:16

On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, protests continued in Iran, with students honoring the martyrs of the recent uprising. While the courageous youth of Iran continue their defiance, the regime’s top officials are openly acknowledging the severity of the crisis, describing the situation as a “historical turn” and admitting to the existence of “complex problems” that threaten the system’s survival. Internationally, the regime faces growing isolation as Australia imposes a new round of targeted sanctions against the IRGC and senior officials responsible for the brutal crackdown on the Iranian people. Roundup: Mashhad protests, regime panic, and international sanctions Mashhad Student Protest: Students at the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences held a memorial and protest rally for Faezeh Hossein-Nejad, a student martyred by Khamenei’s guards during the January protests. Regime Panic: Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the regime’s parliament, admitted the system is at a “historical turn” and warned that fear and surrender would carry a heavy cost. Talk of War: Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Khamenei, stated that while the military views war as inevitable, there is still hope to prevent a catastrophe through diplomacy, acknowledging the regime has received “suggestions.” New Sanctions: The Australian government sanctioned 20 individuals and 3 entities linked to the IRGC in response to the massacre of thousands of Iranians since late December 2025. Students in Mashhad honor martyr of the uprising On Tuesday, February 3, a group of students from the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences gathered to honor the memory of Faezeh Hossein-Nejad, a martyr of the nationwide uprising. Hossein-Nejad, a midwifery student who entered the university in 2023, was killed by Khamenei’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) during the protests in January. February 2—Mashhad, northeast Iran Students of Azad University held protest rally to commemorate Faezeh Hossein Nejad, a student who was murdered by the regime's security forces during the nationwide uprising.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/88MLd8CRPl — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 3, 2026 Despite the heavy security atmosphere, the students held a memorial ceremony that turned into a protest rally. They chanted slogans honoring their fallen classmate and defying the regime’s suppression, including “This withered flower is a gift to the nation” and “Students die but do not accept humiliation.” Regime officials admit to fragility and fear of collapse As the uprising persists, senior regime officials are expressing increasing alarm over the future of the system. On Tuesday, February 3, during a ceremony at the grave of the regime’s founder, Khomeini, the speaker of the regime’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, admitted to the critical condition of the dictatorship. Ghalibaf described the current situation as a “historical turn and twist” for the regime. Betraying the regime’s fear of the people’s anger and internal defections, he warned that “negligence, mistakes, miscalculations, or fear and giving up can have a huge cost.” Attempting to downplay the crisis while simultaneously acknowledging the structural threats, Ghalibaf used the metaphor of a train, stating that “stone-throwing from the outside... is not a problem, but the destruction of the rails and the weakening of the engine is dangerous.” He also referred to the situation as “the last slopes and turns of a multi-layered war,” urging absolute obedience to the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—a call that highlights the waning authority of the Supreme Leader over his own forces. Simultaneously, Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Khamenei, spoke to Al-Mayadeen in a tone reflecting the regime’s desperation. He admitted that “complex problems exist that must be solved.” While stating that military forces view war as inevitable, he claimed there is still hope to prevent a “catastrophe” if foreign suggestions are “free of threats.” Australia imposes new sanctions on IRGC officials for brutal repression On February 3, 2026, the Australian Government announced further targeted financial sanctions on the Iranian regime in response to its horrific use of violence against protesters. Senator Penny Wong, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, confirmed that the sanctions target 20 individuals and 3 entities, including senior officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Australia today imposed further sanctions on Iran in response to the regime’s horrific use of violence against its own people. The 20 individuals and 3 entities sanctioned include senior officials and entities of the IRGC involved in the oppression of the Iranian people. — Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) February 3, 2026 The Australian Foreign Ministry noted that since December 28, 2025, the regime has “massacred thousands of Iranians while attacking and arresting many thousands more for participating in peaceful protest.” The statement also highlighted the regime’s use of nationwide internet and telecommunications blackouts to conceal the scale of its brutality. These new measures build upon Australia’s listing of the IRGC as a state sponsor of terrorism. The total number of Iranian individuals and entities sanctioned by the Albanese Government now exceeds 200.