A fresh wave of civil unrest has hit major Iranian cities and universities, coinciding with blunt warnings from Washington that President Donald Trump is "curious" as to why the Islamic Republic has not yet capitulated to massive military pressure.
According to reports from within the country, protests have surged at university campuses and memorial services marking 40 days since the killing of tens of thousands of demonstrators during the deadly crackdown in January.
The start of the new academic semester served as a flashpoint for renewed resistance. At the Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, students reportedly dressed in black and chanted slogans in favor of the former Shah and against the Revolutionary Guard. At other institutions, demonstrations turned violent as students called for the overthrow of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
In a statement cited by the Wall Street Journal, the president of Sharif University demanded severe measures against students, emphasizing the need to "broadcast to the world that the situation is under control."
Residents in Tehran describe a "quiet resistance" during the day that shifts to shouting matches from balconies at night, with chants of "Death to the child-killers" and "Death to the Supreme Leader" echoing through neighborhoods.
