The Iranian government has issued a stern warning to university students following a fresh wave of anti-government demonstrations across major campuses this week. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani acknowledged on Tuesday that students “have wounds in their hearts” and that their anger over recent economic and political events is understandable. However, she emphasized that while the right to protest exists, students must respect established “red lines,” specifically citing the national flag and other sacred state symbols as boundaries that must not be violated.
These renewed protests broke out at the start of the new academic semester, particularly at prestigious institutions like the Sharif University of Technology and Amir Kabir University of Technology in Tehran. Demonstrators were seen reviving slogans from the massive nationwide unrest that peaked in early January, which was initially sparked by economic hardship but quickly evolved into a challenge against the clerical leadership. Reports and social media footage have surfaced showing protesters burning the post-revolution Iranian flag, an act that directly prompted the government’s warning about crossing “red lines.”
The situation remains tense as pro-government and anti-government groups have reportedly clashed on several campuses. In response to the persistent dissent, authorities have launched a fact-finding mission to investigate the underlying causes of the unrest and produce a detailed report. While the government claims to permit expression, the warning suggests that any further escalation or perceived insults to state symbols could trigger a harsher crackdown, similar to the deadly responses seen in previous months.
