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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a diplomatic solution with Washington remains available and that progress in talks is still possible, according to an interview with CBS News . He added that he will likely meet on Thursday, February 26, in Geneva with Steve Witkoff , described as the U.S. special envoy . Source: According to Abbas Araghchi’s remarks in an interview with CBS News.
Reports from an independent media outlet linked to the University of Art say a memorial ceremony for Amirali Zarei —a student reportedly killed during Dey (January) protests —is being held on campus. With a heavy security presence around the Applied Faculty, students have reportedly been asked to remain inside the university . The Students United channel reported memorial gatherings across multiple campuses, including Amirkabir University (Polytechnic) , Shahid Beheshti University , Sharif University of Technology , K.N. Toosi University , Ferdowsi University of Mashhad , and Iran University of Science and Technology , with chants such as: “کشته ندادیم که سازش کنیم…” and “قسم به خون یاران ایستادهایم تا پایان.” Reports also said Sharif students raised the Lion and Sun flag in the university courtyard. Separately, Hossein Goldansaz , Tehran University’s deputy for student and cultural affairs, said he would not support students “under any circumstances” if protests lead to violence , adding that permits would be granted if “red lines” are respected and that “structural-breaking” slogans waste students’ time. Source: According to the University of Art’s independent media outlet, Students United channel reports, and remarks attributed to Hossein Goldansaz (University of Tehran).
Mohammad Jafar Asadi, the deputy inspector of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said the issue of a U.S. aircraft carrier presence in the region has “entered a propaganda phase.” He added that Iran is ready to defend and would act “much more firmly and strongly than in the past.” Source: According to remarks attributed to Mohammad Jafar Asadi (Deputy Inspector, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters).
Videos shared on social media show a new wave of student gatherings across Iran on Sunday (3 Esfand) —coinciding with “40th day” memorials—featuring anti-government chants and, in some cases, reported confrontations with Basij forces. At Sharif University of Technology (Tehran) , students were heard chanting “Javid Shah.” A video received by Iran International reportedly shows Basij forces attacking a student gathering at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad . In Mashhad, students at Sajjad University gathered for the memorial and chanted slogans including “By the blood of our companions, we’ll stand to the end.” In Tehran, students at Amirkabir University chanted “This is the final battle—Pahlavi will return.” Footage also shows a group of University of Tehran students chanting directly at Basij forces, including “Khamenei Zahhak, we’ll bury you.” Separately, the Khajeh Nasir newsletter reported that a student gathering there turned violent after a Basij assault, with some students beaten . Source: social media videos , Iran International , Khajeh Nasir newsletter .
The group Daneshjooian Mottahed (United Students) reported that students at the University of Art held a memorial for Javidnam Amirali Zarei , a slain student, where they collectively sang the anthem “Sogand be Asheghan-e Iran” (“Oath to Iran’s lovers”). According to the report, participants also chanted “I will kill, I will kill the one who killed my brother,” and during Sunday’s gathering echoed another slogan: “All these years of crimes—death to this Velayat.” Source: United Students (Daneshjooian Mottahed) .
The group Daneshjooian Mottahed (United Students) reported that students at Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) chanted “Toop, tank, feshfeshe — akhoond bayad gom beshe” (“Cannon, tank, firecracker — clerics must go”) during a campus gathering on Sunday . According to reports, the rally was later turned violent by Basij forces , with clashes involving students. Source: United Students (Daneshjooian Mottahed) ; reported accounts .
Iran’s IRGC Navy conducted an operational test of the “Sayyad 3-G” naval air-defense missile during its “Smart Control” exercise in the Strait of Hormuz , according to state-affiliated reporting. The missile is reported to have a ~150 km range , vertical launch capability from vessels, and 360-degree coverage . Source: ISNA .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive on Wednesday for an official visit and is expected to address the Knesset , as Israel seeks to expand cooperation with India in economic, diplomatic, and security fields — plus high-tech , AI , and quantum . Netanyahu also described a plan to build a “ hexagon of alliances ” in/around the Middle East, naming India, Greece, and Cyprus , alongside countries from the Arab world, Africa, and Asia , positioning it against what he called radical axes in the region. Some reports noted there had been no official Indian confirmation of the trip at the time of publication. Source: Arab News (AFP) ; The Times of Israel .
Students at Khajeh Nasir University chanted “Das, chakosh, emameh — 57 tamameh” (“Sickle, hammer, turban — ’57 is over”) during a campus gathering on Sunday (3 Esfand) , according to circulated reports and footage. Source: reported accounts / protest footage .
Videos circulating on social media show a second day of student gatherings across multiple Iranian universities in support of the national protest movement, with chants against Ali Khamenei and in support of Reza Pahlavi . Reports also indicate Basij attacks on student protesters at some campuses. At the University of Tehran on Sunday, 3 Esfand , students gathering for the 40th-day memorial of protest victims chanted slogans including “Khamenei Zahhak, we’ll bury you” and “Javid Shah.” Separate footage appears to show Basij members assaulting the gathering . Earlier, Hossein Goldansaz , the University of Tehran’s deputy for student and cultural affairs, warned students to stay within the regime’s “framework” and “red lines,” calling “system-breaking” slogans a waste of time and saying he would not support students if protests lead to violence . Source: social media videos ; reported remarks attributed to Hossein Goldansaz .
Videos circulating on social media show students at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran chanting at Basij forces on Sunday (3 Esfand) —during gatherings marking the 40th day for the “Javidnaman”—saying: “Hossein, Hossein is your slogan; crime is your pride.” Source: social media videos / protest footage .
Iranian lawmaker Fadahossein Maleki , a member of parliament’s National Security Commission , said the course of negotiations will determine whether Iran receives the “necessary guarantees,” and warned that if Tehran feels U.S. talks are a “deception,” they will be stopped . He added that it is too early to say trust has formed after the second round, saying “there is no trust right now” and that the trajectory of the current talks will be decisive. Referring to the U.S. aircraft carriers and broader military buildup in the region, Maleki argued Washington will eventually need to scale back its force posture and, from the U.S. perspective, do so in a “respectful” way—making negotiations important for the American side. Source: Fadahossein Maleki’s remarks (Iran Parliament) .