While the protest movement has resumed for several days in certain universities in Iran, the government spokesperson on Tuesday warned students of the "red lines" not to cross. Images showing the flag of the Islamic Republic on fire were notably broadcast by local media.
Published on: 02/24/2026 - 11:04 Modified on: 02/24/2026 - 19:20
In Iran, students have the right to demonstrate but must not cross "red lines", the government warned on Tuesday February 24 in its first reaction since the resumption of a protest movement in certain universities on Saturday.
They “naturally have the right to demonstrate,” said spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani. But there are "red lines to protect and not to cross, even at the height of anger", she added during a weekly press conference, citing as examples "the sacred places and the flag" of the Islamic Republic.
Pro- and anti-government student rallies at several universities, notably in Tehran, have taken place since classes resumed on Saturday.
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“All these years of crimes, death to this power!”, “Bullets, tanks and weapons no longer have any effect on us!”, chant the students in particular, who hold up portraits of their comrades killed by the security forces.
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Local media broadcast images showing students burning the flag of the Islamic Republic, adopted after the 1979 revolution that toppled the monarchy.
These gatherings, which for some gave rise to clashes, including this Tuesday, are part of the continuity of a vast movement which began in December with initially economic demands but took an unprecedented anti-power turn at the beginning of January.
The official death toll from the Iranian authorities stands at more than 3,000 deaths.
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They claim that the vast majority of victims are security forces or bystanders killed by “terrorists” in the pay of Israel and the United States.
NGOs based abroad accuse the security forces of having deliberately fired on the demonstrators.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says more than 7,000 people have been killed.
Other estimates suggest more than 30,000 deaths, according to senior officials from the Iranian Ministry of Health cited at the end of January by the American media Time.
With AFP
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