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.
