'Death to the Ayatollah!' Protests erupt across Iran as Donald Trump hints at air strikes

Footage shows brawls breaking out with pro-government forces and people who appeared to be security staff struggling to hold back crowds of angry students.

Clashes were reported with security forces and the loyalist Basij militia members at campus gates.

The new demonstrations took place as the US continues to concentrate the largest array of warships and aircraft in the Middle East since the Iraq War.

President Trump first threatened to intervene in early January when the regime began killing civilians whose protests started over the cost of living, but rapidly evolved into wider unrest about the Islamic Republic.

The US is now attempting to force a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme while building up military pressure.

So far, two rounds of talks have yielded limited progress.

The US President has demanded a deal within 15 days "maximum".

Given Mr Trump’s past promise to protesters that “help is on the way” - a pledge the US was not able to fulfil due to a lack of military assets in the region - the latest protests could prompt a response from the US if they turn violent.

The demonstrations have taken place at the Amirkabir University of Technology and Sharif University, both in the capital, following a 40-day mourning period for those killed by the regime in January.

Social media content showed new gatherings at Khajeh Nasir University in Tehran, as well as Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, although not all the participants were against the regime.

At Sharif University, students were seen advancing across a courtyard chanting “heydar, heydar” - a religious slogan associated with Ayatollah Khamenei’s supporters.

At the same institution, anti-regime protesters raised the pre-Islamic Republic Lion and Sun flag of Iran.

The Iranian Human Rights Activists and News Agency documented 7,015 confirmed fatalities from last month, with an additional 11,700 deaths “under review”.

Speaking to Fox News on Saturday, Steve Witkoff, who is leading the negotiations with Jared Kushner, Mr Trump’s son-in-law, said the president was “curious” about why Iran had not yet “capitulated” under US pressure.

A report by Axios quoted administration officials saying that key advisers are urging Mr Trump to be patient in order to allow the military build-up to continue and exert maximum pressure on Iran.

The outlet also quotes sources suggesting that the US may be willing to accept a degree of Iranian “token enrichment”.

Publicly, the White House has demanded an end to the enrichment programme, but the reports suggest the administration may accept a symbolic amount, if there were a proper enforcement and inspection mechanism.

But Iranian sources have briefed that there is little chance of a deal, a view shared by those in Israel’s security establishment.

Despite mounting pressure, US commanders still believe it could take up to another three weeks for the USS Gerald R Ford carrier group to amass the required volume of air defence weapons to counter Iranian retaliation.