Videos geolocated at universities in Tehran show students chanting "bi sharaf," or "disgraceful" in Parsi, as clashes erupted against supporters of the government.
Anti-regime protests at university campuses continued in Iran on Sunday amid a US military build-up in the region.
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Two days of intense clashes came on the back of a deadly crackdown last month, with speculation that the unrest could spill over into the streets.
Amid reports of renewed protests in Iran, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that his country would not give in to international pressure as nuclear talks with the United States are ongoing.
US President Donald Trump has said he was considering a limited military strike on Iran in order to pressure its leaders to agree to a deal to curb the nuclear programme.
During a speech broadcast live on state TV, Pezeshkian said, "World powers are lining up to force us to bow our heads... but we will not bow our heads despite all the problems that they are creating for us."
Meanwhile, media inside and outside Iran reported renewed anti-regime protests in Tehran over the thousands killed during the January clashes, as well as other groups showing support for the government.
Videos geolocated by AFP at Tehran's top engineering university show people chanting "bi sharaf", or "disgraceful" in Farsi, and fights breaking out.
London-based Persian-language TV channel Iran International also reported on protests at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran.
Iranians repeated protest slogans this week to mark 40 days since the deaths of thousands of people, in line with mourning tradition, after demonstrations peaked on 8 and 9 January.
Local outlet Fars reported that a planned “silent and peaceful sit-in” by students to remember the dead was disrupted when some began chanting slogans including “death to the dictator”, a reference to Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
A video published by Fars showed one group chanting and waving Iranian flags facing another crowd wearing masks, who were being held back by men in suits. Both sides appeared to be holding memorial photographs.
The unrest began in December after months of financial hardship, before escalating into mass anti-government protests. Security forces crushed the demonstrations in a violent crackdown that rights groups say killed thousands.
Tehran has admitted more than 3,000 people were killed, but has blamed the violence on “terrorist acts” allegedly driven by the country’s enemies.
However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency says that more than 7,000 people were killed in the crackdown, most of them protesters, though the true figure may be much higher.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump said that 32,000 people had been killed during the recent protests without providing a source. Insiders in Iran have shared a similar figure with Euronews.
Following Trump's comments, on Saturday Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on social media X for "anyone" who "disputes the accuracy of our data, please share any evidence".
Growing tension in the region
The protests come as Iran faces growing pressure to reach a deal on its nuclear programme with the United States, which has deployed forces within striking distance and is mounting its presence in the Middle East.
Trump had already threatened military action against Tehran during the protests over the security forces’ crackdown.
Reuters reported that US military aircraft were spotted at Lajes Air Base, and US officials said that strikes on Iran could target individual leaders. The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford was also spotted passing by the Strait of Gibraltar on Friday.
Live flight tracker Flightradar24 also reported that Bulgaria's Sofia airport will be closed for a few hours on Monday and Tuesday, with only military planes allowed. Local media note that this temporary closure coincides with the presence of US military aircraft at the airport and the nearby airbase.
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defence said the aircraft belong to the US Air Force and that their deployment is part of NATO’s enhanced vigilance activities.
Sweden, Serbia and Australia have urged their citizens to leave Iran and avoid travelling to the country.