Iran’s Regime Draws a Red Line at Student Protests – But What Are They Really Afraid Of?

In Tehran, the Iranian government’s recent warning to university students against burning the national flag exposes a regime increasingly desperate to maintain control over a volatile population. For days, protests have erupted across Iran’s universities, with students boldly igniting flags of the Islamic Republic itself—a stark departure from the traditional practice of only burning U.S. and Israeli flags. Fatemeh Mohajerani, the government spokesperson, begrudgingly acknowledged the legitimacy of student protests but drew an unambiguous line: “The sacred and the flag are two red lines that must not be crossed even in moments of anger.” This thinly veiled threat is less...