Iran says students have right to protest but must know 'red lines'

AFP , Tuesday 24 Feb 2026

University students have the right to protest, but everyone must "understand the red lines", the Iranian government's spokeswoman said Tuesday, in the first official reaction to renewed rallies on campuses since the weekend.

Iranian women walk past street vendors in northern Tehran on February 23, 2026. Iran warned the United States on February 23, 2026, AFP

"Sacred things and the flag are two examples of these red lines that we must protect and not cross or deviate from, even at the height of anger," Fatemeh Mohajerani said.

She said Iran's students "have wounds in their hearts and have seen scenes that may upset and anger them; this anger is understandable".

University students in Iran started a new semester Saturday with pro- and anti-government rallies, according to local media, reviving slogans from nationwide demonstrations that peaked in January and led to thousands of deaths.

Protests first began in December, sparked by economic woes in the sanctions-hit country, but grew into nationwide demonstrations on January 8 and 9.

Iranian officials acknowledge more than 3,000 deaths, but say the violence was caused by "terrorist acts" fuelled by the United States and Israel.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), an opposition NGO, has recorded more than 7,000 deaths.

Mohajerani on Tuesday said a fact-finding mission is investigating "the causes and factors" of the protests and will provide reports.