Iran faced a new round of student demonstrations over the weekend of Feb. 22, 2026, as U.S. and Iranian officials prepared for another session of Iran nuclear talks in Geneva later this week.
Reports from Iranian state media and international news organizations described protests at multiple universities in Tehran and in Mashhad, a sign of renewed unrest after last month’s nationwide demonstrations and a subsequent crackdown.
The protests come as the Trump administration increases pressure on Tehran ahead of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. U.S. officials have paired diplomacy with warnings of possible military action, while Iran’s leadership has said it will not accept threats as the basis for a deal.
Iran protests reported at universities in Tehran and Mashhad
Iranian state media reported student demonstrations at several universities in Tehran and at least one in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city. Reporting from Reuters described protests continuing for a second day at some campuses, with clashes involving security forces.
State television portrayed some unrest as the work of infiltrators who confronted pro-government students during a rally in Tehran, Reuters reported. Separately, Reuters said videos obtained by the U.S.-based HRANA rights group showed demonstrations and intervention by authorities at universities, including in Mashhad.
Reuters also reported that footage from Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology showed protesters denouncing Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and expressing support for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah. The demonstrations, Reuters said, began with economic grievances in December and have escalated into political protests in recent weeks.
The renewed campus activity follows broader unrest last month that rights groups say resulted in a very large death toll, while Iranian authorities have offered lower figures. An AP report said human rights groups estimated deaths in the thousands during recent unrest, but also noted that independent verification is difficult because of restrictions on communications and reporting inside Iran.
U.S. military buildup adds leverage ahead of Iran nuclear talks
As protests reappeared in Iran, U.S. officials signaled they are moving additional forces into the region, keeping open the possibility of military action if diplomacy fails. A CBS News report said all U.S. military forces required for potential action were expected to be in place by mid-March 2026, citing U.S. officials, and that a second aircraft carrier group was en route.
The carrier cited in multiple reports is the USS Gerald R. Ford. U.S. Navy-focused outlet USNI News reported that Ford and its escorts were crossing the Atlantic toward U.S. Central Command amid tensions with Iran.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff framed the pressure campaign in blunt terms. In a Reuters report, Witkoff said the president was “curious” why Iran had not, in his words, “capitulated” under the buildup, while also saying he did not want to use that term.
U.S. officials have said their objective is to block Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran has long denied seeking a weapon and says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, including civilian enrichment, a central dispute that has repeatedly stalled negotiations. The AP described Washington’s position as demanding that Iran stop enriching uranium, while Iran insists it has a right to peaceful enrichment.
Geneva meeting set for Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, with Oman mediating
Talks are scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Geneva, according to Oman, which has brokered previous rounds of indirect negotiations. In a Reuters report, Oman confirmed the meeting and described a “positive push” toward finalizing a deal.
The AP reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there was a “good chance” for diplomacy and that Iran was finalizing a draft proposal focused on the nuclear issue. The AP also reported discussions about confidence-building measures in exchange for sanctions relief.
Reuters reported potential concessions being discussed, while emphasizing that key gaps remain. In its account of the negotiations and pressure campaign, Reuters said Iran was considering steps such as exporting part of its highly enriched uranium and diluting the remainder, in exchange for sanctions relief and recognition of its right to peaceful enrichment. Reuters also reported ongoing disputes that extend beyond enrichment, including U.S. demands related to Iran’s missile program and Tehran’s support for armed groups.
For Iran, sanctions relief remains a central demand because restrictions have affected oil sales, banking access, and trade. For Washington, the dispute has centered on preventing a pathway to a weapon, including through limits on enrichment and stockpiles. The AP report noted that Iran’s proposal, as described by Araghchi, would keep the focus on the nuclear file, rather than a broader bargain covering regional activity.
