In brief
- Videos of protests in Iran show students chanting and burning flags at universities.
- The unrest comes as the country prepares for talks with the US regarding its nuclear program.
Iran has issued a stern warning, promising a fierce response to any military action from the United States. This heightened rhetoric follows President Donald Trump’s recent threats of potential strikes.
The verbal escalation between the two nations comes ahead of planned indirect negotiations in Switzerland. These talks aim to address Iran’s nuclear program, and a U.S. official confirmed they are set to begin on Thursday.
Last week, President Trump hinted at the possibility of a limited military strike should Iran fail to agree on a deal. In response, Iran’s foreign ministry emphasized on Monday that any such action would be perceived as aggression.
“An act of aggression will meet a ferocious response from us,” declared Esmaeil Baqaei, the ministry’s spokesperson, reinforcing Iran’s readiness to retaliate.
Meanwhile, as tensions mount with the U.S. and military presence in the Middle East intensifies, Iranian university students have resumed anti-government protests. These demonstrations echo the nationwide unrest earlier this year, which was violently suppressed.
Reports from state media detail students at Tehran University vocally opposing the government, flag burnings at the all-women al-Zahra University, and confrontations at Amir Kabir University, all in the capital city.
Reuters also verified videos showing students at al-Zahra University chanting slogans, including “we’ll reclaim Iran”, but wasn’t able to confirm when it was recorded.
Negotiations continue
Iran has said it will be ready to deliver a draft proposal for an agreement on its nuclear program to mediators in the coming days. Trump said on Thursday that Iran had at most 15 days to make a deal.
Iran insists its nuclear program is for civilian use, but the West believes it is aimed at building an atomic bomb.
While Iran has taken anything beyond the nuclear issue off the negotiating table, the US also wants to discuss Iran’s missiles and its support for militant groups in the region.
The two countries concluded a second round of indirect talks in Switzerland last week under Omani mediation.
Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the resumption of talks was “a new window of opportunity” but warned of the risk of a regional conflict if his country was attacked.
“The consequences of any renewed aggression wouldn’t remain confined to one country and responsibility would rest with those who initiate or support such actions,” Gharibabadi said.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that negotiations with the US had “yielded encouraging signals”.
Trump hasn’t laid out in detail his thinking on any possible Iran strike. A senior White House official told Reuters last week there was still no “unified support” within the administration to go ahead with an attack.
Countries urge citizens to leave Iran
The risk of conflict has caused mounting fear in Iran and spurred other countries to take precautionary measures.
India on Monday joined Sweden, Serbia, Poland and Australia in calling for its citizens to leave Iran.
The US, meanwhile, ordered non-emergency personnel to leave its embassy in Lebanon, home to the Shi’ite militia Hezbollah, which maintains close ties to Iran.
In an interview with Fox News broadcast on the weekend, US negotiator Steve Witkoff said Trump was wondering why Iran hasn’t “capitulated” in the face of the US’ military threats and force deployment.
Baqaei responded Monday by saying that Iranians had never capitulated at any point in their history.
China has warned the US government against triggering new conflicts.
On Monday, at a disarmament conference in Switzerland, Chinese ambassador Shen Jian said: “We oppose unilateral bullying and the use of force in international relations.”
The protests sparked in December by economic pains in the sanctions-hit country grew into the most significant challenge to the authorities in years.
Security forces put them down as they peaked on 8 and 9 January with violence that left thousands dead. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency recorded more than 7,000 killings, while warning the toll is likely far higher.
Authorities acknowledge more than 3,000 deaths, but say the violence was caused by “terrorist acts” fuelled by the US and Israel.
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