Iranian university students join protests over the economic crisis and challenge the regime: 'Death to the dictator'

Protests against economic deterioration in Iran added a new key actor on Tuesday: university students. The demonstrations began days ago, driven by merchants affected by hyperinflation and the devaluation of the rial. 

Now, they have spread to multiple educational centers in Tehran and Isfahan, on the third consecutive day of mobilizations. According to reports, there were protests at universities such as Beheshti, Khajeh Nasir, Sharif, Amir Kabir, Science and Culture, and Isfahan University of Technology.

Slogans against the regime and strong police presence

In the dormitory complex of the University of Tehran, students chanted slogans on Monday night. Among the chants shared on social media, expressions such as "death to the dictator", in direct reference to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and "freedom, freedom" were heard.

The images show a strong response from the security forces, which surrounded the university complex and closed its entrances. A student who was inside the dormitory spoke to the British newspaper The Telegraph. 

"They've closed the doors and special forces on motorcycles are surrounding us. We have determination; some of us could be arrested, things could get worse, but we won't back down."

Iranian universities have historically been central spaces for political activism. In addition, they have played a key role in protests against the regime over the past decades.

The origin of the protests and the rial crisis

The mobilizations began on Sunday in the largest mobile phone market in Tehran. Merchants closed their shops after the collapse of the Iranian rial to a historic low of 1.42 million per dollar. On Monday, the protest expanded with marches and business closures in different parts of the capital.

Images shared by state agency Fars showed security forces using tear gas to disperse protesters near Tehran Grand Bazaar.

The Islamic Republic has been going through a process of rapidly rising prices of basic products for years. In December, year-on-year inflation reached 52%, according to the country's Statistics Center. A year ago, the dollar traded at around 820,000 rials.

Official response and international context

President Masud Pezeshkian tried to ease tensions and stated that he had ordered his officials to listen to the demands.

"I asked the Interior Minister to listen to the legitimate demands of the protesters by talking with their representatives", he stated on social network X.

The economic crisis is worsening due to decades of Western sanctions and the recent reinstatement of international penalties linked to the Iranian nuclear program, reactivated by the UN at the end of September.

In this context, the government announced the replacement of the Central Bank governor with Abdolnasser Hemmati, who already held that position between 2018 and 2021.

In addition, for this Wednesday the closure of schools, banks, and public offices was decreed in Tehran and other regions. The "official justification" is due to the cold and to save energy, without linking the measure to the protests.