Tehran and Mashhad universities saw anti-government protests Sunday, with students chanting against Ali Khamenei as security forces reportedly used tear gas.

Several rallies have taken place at universities in the Iranian capital, Tehran, for the second day running.

The BBC visits the Iranian capital for the first time since authorities used unprecedented force to put down protests last month.

Iran’s theocracy has faced down protests and U.S. threats in the past, and the crackdown showed the iron grip it holds over the country. This week, authorities organized pro-government rallies with hundreds of thousands of people to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Gunfire echoed through Tehran on Tuesday as heavily armed militias were deployed across the Iranian capital, transforming some districts into fortified zones under intense security. Video footage showed bursts of automatic weapons after dark as government ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. FILE PHOTO: People attend the funeral of the security forces who were killed in the protests that erupted over the collapse of the currency's value in Tehran, Iran, January 14, 2026.

Protests have erupted in Tehran as Iran's rial currency falls into a free fall. 572 people have been killed and more than 10,600 people detained, per the Human Rights Activists News Agency.