Fresh protests rock Iran, as Trump threatens military action over nuclear deal
February 22, 2026 — 7:30pm
Iranian university students have ignited protests against the regime, resuming their activism on the first day of a new semester. This comes as US President Donald Trump contemplates limited military strikes to pressure Iran into signing a new nuclear deal. The Pentagon's strategic deployment, including two aircraft carriers, fighter jets, and refueling planes, provides Trump with the option to launch either limited or extended operations against Iran.
Trump has also reportedly been briefed on plans to assassinate Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son and various mullahs. The campus demonstrations followed a deadly government crackdown that resulted in thousands of deaths just a month prior. While the government remains silent on the latest protests, state-affiliated news media has reported on the escalating tension on university campuses.
A video circulating online shows protesters at Tehran's Sharif University of Technology condemning Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a 'murderous leader' and calling for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's toppled shah, to become the new monarch. State-affiliated news agencies, such as SNN, have carried videos of clashes, with protesters allegedly injuring volunteer student Basij militia by throwing rocks at Iran's prestigious engineering university. Pro-government Basij members often assist security forces in quelling protests.
Protests have also been reported at Beheshti and Amir Kabir universities in Tehran, as well as Mashhad University in the northeast, according to unverified videos shared by rights group HAALVSH. In the western town of Abdanan, a protest hotspot, demonstrators chanted 'Death to Khamenei' and 'Death to the dictator' following the arrest of an activist teacher, according to rights group Hengaw and social media posts.
The protests coincide with ceremonies traditionally held after 40 days to mourn those killed by security forces during last month's anti-government demonstrations, which resulted in thousands of lives lost in the worst domestic unrest since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. The activism by students and Tehran shopkeepers evolved into a nationwide protest movement, threatening the regime before a violent suppression.
The Iranian government acknowledges the deaths of over 3000 people in January, but rights groups, such as the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, estimate the number to be at least 7000, with more deaths expected as the numbers are verified. Iran experts caution that bombing the country during negotiations could derail the deal and trigger a deadly cycle of retaliation.
Tehran would likely suspend participation in talks if the US launched a strike, according to a senior government official in the region, who requested anonymity. Barbara Slavin, a fellow at the Stimson Centre in Washington, emphasizes that the military threats alone, even if not acted upon, will make Iran less willing to negotiate.
While Trump has set a deadline of 10 to 15 days, the actual achievement of a new round of airstrikes, whether limited or extensive, remains uncertain. Last June, Israel and the US extensively bombed Iran's nuclear sites and air defenses, with the president claiming that 'key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated'.
The US and Israel could target Iran's ballistic missiles, but there is a risk that Tehran might retaliate by firing them at US or allied targets before losing them, according to Slavin. When asked about his message to the Iranian people, Trump stated, 'They better negotiate a fair deal. They better negotiate.'
Steve Witkoff, Middle East envoy, speaking on Fox News, emphasized that 'zero enrichment' is non-negotiable for any deal with Iran. He stated, 'We have to have the material back.' Witkoff added that Iran is likely a week away from acquiring industrial-grade bomb-making material, which is highly dangerous and unacceptable. He questioned why Iran hasn't capitulated to US demands despite the military threat.
The shifting US rationale for talks and strikes complicates the interpretation of US intentions. Trump's initial threat of airstrikes was in support of the protests in Iran during December and January, rather than a nuclear deal. For the latest updates, sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
