Iranian students staged protests at several universities on Saturday as the new academic term began, with some clashes reported between students and pro-government groups.

Axar.az, citing Reuters, reports that the demonstrations coincided with 40-day memorial ceremonies for those killed by security forces during last month’s anti-government unrest, which marked the deadliest domestic protests in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

At Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology, videos circulated on social media showing marchers condemning Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a “murderous leader”.

State-affiliated news agencies such as SNN reported clashes in which protesters allegedly injured volunteer Basij militia members with rocks. Basij members often assist security forces in controlling protests.

Protests were also reported at Beheshti University, Amir Kabir University in Tehran, and Mashhad University in the northeast, according to videos published by rights group HAALVSH. In the western town of Abdanan, demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to the dictator” following the arrest of an activist teacher, according to rights group Hengaw and social media posts.

These student-led demonstrations highlight continued unrest across Iran, with tensions persisting despite crackdowns by security forces and government-aligned militias.