Iranian students took to the streets at the start of the new university semester, clashing with pro-government groups and renewing calls for political change.

The protests coincide with ceremonies marking 40 days since last month’s deadly demonstrations.

On Saturday, students at several Iranian universities staged demonstrations, including Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology, Beheshti University, Amir Kabir University, and Mashhad University.

Videos circulating on social media showed protesters condemning Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a “murderous leader” and calling for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s former shah, to take leadership.

State-affiliated outlets reported clashes between protesters and pro-government Basij militia members, with rocks thrown at the volunteers at Tehran’s top engineering school.

Memorials for those killed in unrest

The demonstrations coincided with the traditional 40-day memorials for those killed during last month’s anti-government protests, which saw thousands lose their lives—the deadliest domestic unrest in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Rights groups such as HAALVSH and Hengaw documented incidents of clashes and chanting, though some reports could not be independently verified by Reuters.

In Abdanan, a western hotspot for protests, demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to the dictator” following the arrest of an activist teacher, according to social media and rights groups.

These protests reflect growing frustration among students and activists, who continue to demand accountability and political change amid widespread security crackdowns.