At universities across Iran this week, students returning for the new semester are speaking out against the Iranian government.

Since Saturday, images and videos of protesting students have circulated online. Eyewitnesses at seven universities reported memorial services being held for citizens killed during the regime's bloody crackdown in January.

The ongoing protests are much smaller in scale than the nationwide unrest last month.

Even so, with the nation still reeling from thousands of deaths, some of the students reportedly displayed anti-regime slogans like "Death to the dictator" or "Death to the Islamic Republic."

Others called for the return of the monarchy and the exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, who has emerged as a leading figure in the fractured opposition to the regime.

Several protesting students chanted slogans with "monarchist themes" on the campus of the elite Sharif University in Tehran, Iran's pro-regime news agency Fars reported this weekend.

Fars portrayed the protests as isolated incidents on the fringes of peaceful memorial gatherings for "martyrs" who are claimed to have been killed during nationwide protests, not by the regime's security forces, but by "terrorists" who had infiltrated the demonstrators.

The most recent student demonstrations, like almost all other protests, are routinely presented in the Iranian media as "riots."

Basij militia keeps an eye on student protesters

A 19-year-old student from Tehran, who wished to remain anonymous, told DW that the anger and rage felt by his peers is indescribable.

The student took part in anti-regime protests in December, along with millions of other Iranians across the country.

Many were shocked by the brutality of the security forces, especially the Basij militia, a paramilitary group within the Revolutionary Guards that was deployed against demonstrators from January 18 onwards. 

Student members of the Basij militia, which has an office at every university, also show up at the student protest rallies, with videos circulating online showing clashes at universities.

Basij members are now apparently tasked with checking all who enter the university grounds, with keeping track of how many students are present and how long they stay. 

Iranians want accountability

Iranians who were able to speak with DW said they want those responsible for the deadly crackdown on demonstrators to be held accountable. Some even said they want the United States to carry out targeted killings.

"When people in a society resort to foreign aid or attacks to combat state repression, the situation is one of desperation," said a sociologist at the University of Tehran, who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons.

This desperation means that people have lost hope that civic engagement — including massive demonstrations, reforms and referendums — can in any way change the status quo.

The legitimacy of Iran's leadership in the eyes of its own population was virtually non-existent even before the brutal crackdown in December and January, which was the most violent response to regime critics since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

Fear of US-Iran war looms large

US President Donald Trump previously threatened the regime with military strikes over its crackdown on protesters. In recent weeks, Trump has renewed threats of force, but this time, it is over Iran's nuclear program.

Iran warned the United States on Monday that any attack would be met with a "harsh response." In turn, Trump has warned the regime time is running out to negotiate a nuclear deal.

Negotiations between Iran and the US are set to continue on Thursday. The US is demanding the Iranian regime give up its nuclear enrichment capacity, something which Iran has signaled it is not willing to do.

Matthew Hoh, a former US Marine Captain, and currently an analyst for the US think tank Center for International Policy, told DW that the probability of a war with Iran is very high.

The US military build-up in the Middle East strongly suggests an escalation, he said.

"In my opinion, all of this is preparation for war. The most likely way to avoid war at present is for the Iranians to surrender ," he said.

Elina Farhadi contributed to this article. It was originally published in German.