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Iran's regime may be ready to strike a deal with Trump
#Iran protests#Donald Trump#Ayatollah Khamenei#40th day mourning#Nuclear negotiations#Student demonstrations#Middle East tensions#Human rights violations
📌 Key Takeaways
Student protests resumed at Iranian universities during the 40th day of mourning for January victims
Iran's regime signaling potential willingness to negotiate with Trump amid US military pressure
Disputed death toll from January protests ranges from official Iranian figures to international estimates
The 40th day commemorations have historically sparked renewed unrest in Iran
📖 Full Retelling
Iran's regime under Ayatollah Khamenei faces renewed student protests in Tehran this weekend as the nation marks the 40th day of mourning for thousands killed in January demonstrations, with authorities signaling potential willingness to negotiate with Donald Trump amid US military pressure in the Middle East. Student-led demonstrations occurred at five universities in Tehran on Saturday, with pro and anti-regime activists confronting each other, while at Ferdowsi University in Mashhad, large anti-regime gatherings were filmed chanting 'so much crime all these years' and 'death to this rule.' These protests, though significantly smaller than the nationwide uprisings six weeks ago that spanned all 31 provinces, represent considerable bravery given the violent crackdown by security forces in January that resulted in disputed casualty figures. The US-based Human Rights Activists Agency has verified at least 7,015 fatalities, while the Iranian government admitted to 3,117 deaths including approximately 200 security personnel, with former President Trump claiming the toll was as high as 32,000. The 40th day of mourning holds particular significance in Iranian tradition, having historically become flashpoints for renewed unrest during the 1979 revolution when commemorations sparked further crackdowns and cycles of violence. Last week, clashes erupted in Abdanan near the Iraqi border as mourners remembered Alireza Seydi, a 16-year-old boy killed on January 8th, with videos capturing both chants against Khamenei and the sound of gunfire. Amid these tensions, Ayatollah Khamenei delivered a speech last week describing some January protesters as 'naive and inexperienced' who were deceived by rioters but still acknowledged they were 'our children,' while Iranian authorities appear carefully calibrated in their response to avoid provoking Trump's administration during its military build-up across the region.
🏷️ Themes
Political protests, International relations, Human rights
Ali Hosseini Khamenei (born 19 April 1939) is an Iranian cleric and politician who has served as the second supreme leader of Iran since 1989. He previously served as the third president of Iran from 1981 to 1989. His tenure as supreme leader, spanning 36 years, makes him the longest-serving head of...
Iran's nuclear program, one of the most scrutinized in the world, has sparked intense international concern. While Iran asserts that its nuclear ambitions are purely for civilian purposes, including energy production, the country historically pursued the secretive AMAD nuclear weapons project (stopp...
Work by students to cause political, environmental, economic, or social change
Student activism or campus activism is work by students to cause political, environmental, economic, or social change. In addition to education, student groups often play central roles in democratization and winning civil rights.
Modern student activist movements span all ages, races, socio-economic...
President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
Born into a wealthy New York City family, Trump graduated from the...
Analysis Analysis As protests resume in Tehran, Iran's regime may be ready to strike a deal with Trump Ayatollah Khamenei, who called some protesters 'naive and inexperienced', has signalled his country is prepared to work towards an agreement - but also willing to fight. Diana Magnay International correspondent @DiMagnaySky Sunday 22 February 2026 17:30, UK 2:01 Share Sky's Diana Magnay analyses the scenes of student protests out of Iran Why you can trust Sky News Student-led protests have taken place in Iran this weekend, coinciding with the start of the new university term and the 40th day of mourning for many of the thousands of people killed by security forces in early January. Pro-and anti-regime activists protested at five universities in Tehran on Saturday, in some instances facing off against each other. At the Ferdowsi University in Mashhad, Iran's second city and birthplace of Ayatollah Khamenei, video shows a large gathering of anti-regime protestors chanting "so much crime all these years" and "death to this rule". These demonstrations are nowhere near the scale of the protests six weeks ago which saw uprisings in towns and cities across all Iran's 31 provinces, but it is brave to be coming out at all given the authorities' crackdown in January. The numbers killed then are still unclear, but the US-based Human Rights Activists Agency says they have verified at least 7,015 fatalities and have thousands more cases under review. The government has admitted to 3,117 deaths including around 200 security personnel. Donald Trump has said he believes 32,000 people were killed. The 40th day is an important moment in the mourning process in Iran. During the revolution in 1979, 40th day commemorations became flashpoints for fresh protest, sparking renewed crackdowns and killings and further cycles of unrest. As a result, the Iranian regime has been wary of allowing mourners to gather for commemorative rituals. 0:32 Share University students clash with government s...
