Students clash with security forces at Tehran universities as US warns of possible strikes
Feb 22nd 2026
Protests over a January crackdown turned violent at multiple Tehran campuses while the US boosts naval forces in the region and President Trump says limited strikes on Iran remain under consideration.
- Clashes erupted at Sharif University and other Tehran campuses as students chanted anti-regime slogans including calls against Supreme Leader Khamenei.
- Anti-government media and social media footage show confrontations with Basij forces and protesters with bloody head injuries.
- The demonstrations follow a January crackdown that rights groups and activists say resulted in large numbers of deaths.
- The US has increased its naval presence in the Middle East, with the USS Gerald Ford passing Gibraltar to join the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group.
- President Trump said he was "considering" limited strikes on Iran and has publicly discussed regime change as an outcome.
- Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian rejected foreign pressure and said Tehran will not submit while diplomats say Iran expects to present a proposed deal in coming days.