Iranian students rise in multiple cities, commemorating uprising martyrs and defying regime forces

2026-02-22 - 23:54

On February 22, 2026, a massive wave of anti-regime protests swept through Iranian universities for the second consecutive day. Across the country’s most prominent academic institutions, students boycotted classes and took to the campuses, chanting slogans that categorically rejected all forms of dictatorship. The demonstrations spanned major universities in the capital, including Tehran University, Amir Kabir, Khajeh Nasir, Iran University of Science and Technology, Sharif, Beheshti, and the Art University, as well as Ferdowsi and Sajjad universities in the northeastern city of Mashhad. February 22—Tehran, Iran Students rallied to commemorate martyrs of the uprising. In their slogans, they rejected both the mullahs' and shah regimes: "Down with the oppressor, be it the shah or the supreme leader" "Neither monarchy, nor the mullahs' rule, yes to democracy and... pic.twitter.com/tHmiUW1gE8 — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 22, 2026 At Tehran University, the country’s oldest and largest academic institution, the core message of the protests was unmistakable. Massive crowds of students chanted, “Death to the oppressor, be it the Shah or the Leader,” and “Neither monarchy, nor mullahs’ rule; yes to democracy and equality.” These slogans directly reflect the student movement’s unified demand for a democratic republic and their outright refusal to replace the current theocracy with a return to monarchical tyranny. At Amir Kabir University, students echoed this sentiment, declaring their objective as spreading an “democratic revolution, neither Shah nor Mullah” from the heart of the campus to the horizons of Iran. Confronting Regime Forces and Sabotage The student protests were not without fierce resistance against the regime’s security apparatus. On several campuses, students directly clashed with Basij mercenaries deployed to suppress the uprising. At Khajeh Nasir University in Tehran, the confrontation escalated as students trampled on photographs of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, chanting, “Khamenei is a murderer, his rule is an illusion.” Issuing a stark warning to the security forces, the students chanted, “Woe be the day we become armed,” and repeatedly shouted “Dishonorable, dishonorable” at the attacking Basij forces. Similar clashes were reported at Ferdowsi University in Mashhad, where students fought back against Basij attacks, with local reports indicating that several elite students had been detained by authorities. February 22—Mashhad, northeast Iran Students at Ferdowsi University rally to commemorate martyrs of the nationwide uprising and chanting anti-regime slogans: "This is the year Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] will be overthrown!" "We did not give martyrs to praise the murderous leader!"... pic.twitter.com/ZirR9D3OwE — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 22, 2026 In a calculated attempt to derail the protests and delegitimize the students’ democratic demands, the regime employed sabotage tactics. At Iran University of Science and Technology and Amir Kabir University, embedded Basij mercenaries attempted to hijack the rallies by shouting the fascist, pro-monarchy slogan “Javid Shah” (Long live the King). The students immediately repelled this provocation, responding forcefully with anti-dictatorship slogans. This incident publicly exposed the tactical alignment between the current clerical regime and monarchist opportunists, both of whom seek to suppress the grassroots demand for a true republic. Tehran University Statement: “The University is a Bastion of Freedom” Solidifying the ideological foundation of Sunday’s protests, a collective of students from Tehran University issued a formal manifesto declaring that the youth will not accept any dictatorship, whether it comes with “turbans” or “boots.” February 22—Tehran, Iran During their protests, students at Khajeh Nasir University were attacked by the regime's Basij agents. They resisted, chanting "shame on you!" to the regime agents.#IranProetsts pic.twitter.com/RFQDlaHGwS — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 22, 2026 The statement condemned the “joint think-tanks” of the mullahs’ regime and the “remnants of the monarchy,” accusing both of utilizing a “Goebbels-like lie industry” to distort the reality of Iranian society. “There is no link between the university and past or present tyranny,” the students wrote. “The sinister goal of the monarchist current is to endorse tyranny and strip away true freedom and democracy from a space that should be the loud voice of the people.” The students vowed to protect the revolution from being hijacked, stating: “We, who have tasted the bitter flavor of suppression, do not accept any kind of dictatorship... The university is awake and will never allow the ‘political dead of history’ to turn the wheel of the revolution backward.” Echoes of the Uprising in Broader Society The defiance seen on university campuses is mirrored across broader Iranian society, as various demographics align their grievances with the call for regime change. On February 22, retirees and pensioners of the Social Security Organization held protest rallies in Tehran and Shush. While these weekly gatherings traditionally focus on economic grievances such as inflation and unpaid pensions, Sunday’s rallies took on a distinctly political tone. Protesters honored the martyrs of the recent nationwide uprisings and chanted, “Political prisoners must be released,” and “Freedom, justice, this is the people’s slogan!” February 22—Tehran, Iran Retirees and pensioners of the Social Security Organization resumed their protest rallies. While these rallies are usually focused on economic demands, the protesters chanted political slogans, including: "Political prisoners must be released" "Freedom,... pic.twitter.com/8CYL7Ktrfi — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 22, 2026 Simultaneously, a remarkable victory for civic resistance unfolded in the western city of Abdanan. On Saturday, intelligence forces abducted Yaghoub Mohammadi, a local teacher and former political prisoner. Following intense street protests and clashes between furious residents and state forces, the regime was forced to retreat and release him on Sunday. Authorities had conditioned his release on the public ignoring his return, with the local prosecutor demanding, “If you do not give him a public welcome, the release order will be issued.” Defying this humiliating stipulation, the residents of Abdanan gathered in massive numbers to give Mohammadi a hero’s welcome, proving that collective, uncompromising resistance can force the regime to step back. Context: Swearing by the Blood of the Martyrs A unifying chant echoing across universities on Sunday was, “We swear by the blood of our comrades, we will stand to the end.” The students are protesting in the immediate shadow of a horrific state crackdown. February 22—Tehran, Iran Students at Iran University of Science and Technology held protest rally, commemorating fellow students murdered by security forces during the nationwide uprising and chanting anti-regime slogans: "We swear on the blood of our comrades that we will stand... pic.twitter.com/rD7AQc6g5v — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 22, 2026 The current wave of defiance is a direct continuation of the massive nationwide uprising that began late last year. What started on December 28, 2025, as a strike by bazaar merchants in central Tehran over the plunging rial, skyrocketing inflation, and business bankruptcies, rapidly metastasized into a political movement. Within days, the protests spread from the Tehran Grand Bazaar to hundreds of locations across multiple provinces. The messaging quickly shifted from economic relief to explicit calls for the overthrow of the clerical establishment. Unable to contain the expanding geographic and social scope of the protests, the regime resorted to systemic slaughter. The government imposed severe communication blackouts and quelled the initial wave of protests through brutal repression, murdering thousands of civilians, including hundreds of children. Yet, as the events of February 22 demonstrate, the state’s violence has not pacified the Iranian people. The students’ steadfast presence on the streets, demanding an end to all dictatorial factions, proves that the blood spilled by the regime has only hardened the nation’s resolve to achieve a free, democratic republic.