Reformist veteran defines 'reform’ as gradual change, warns it could take decades

Head of the Supreme Court of Iran, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, said on Tuesday that authorities must listen to what he described as legitimate and lawful protests, acknowledging widespread economic pressure as demonstrations continued across Iran.

According to a statement published by the Supreme Court, Montazeri said officials should act with caution and address public grievances to prevent misuse of protests by hostile actors.

“Legitimate and lawful protests of the people must be heard,” he said.

Students at the University of Tehran called on the public on Tuesday to move toward the campus, saying heavy security around the university was preventing them from joining street protests, according to messages circulated by student groups.

In statements shared online, students said security forces had encircled areas around the university, limiting movement in and out of the campus.

They urged citizens to approach Tehran University so that students could link up with protesters outside the campus perimeter.

The appeal came on the third day of protests and strikes over economic hardship, as universities across Tehran reported demonstrations alongside tightened security and access controls.

Tehran University has been a recurring focal point during protest waves, with students often attempting to connect campus gatherings to wider street demonstrations.

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Iranian security forces fired directly toward protesters on Tehran’s Mellat Street on Tuesday as demonstrations continued across the capital.

Footage showed officers aiming weapons toward groups of demonstrators on the street, with shots audible as people scattered.

The videos did not make clear whether the ammunition used was live or less-lethal, and there was no immediate information on injuries.

Mellat Street is located near central administrative and commercial areas of Tehran and has seen protest activity during previous unrest.

Protesters inside Tehran’s Grand Bazaar chanted calls for freedom on Tuesday.

Footage showed groups of people chanting “Azadi, azadi, azadi” – “Freedom, freedom, freedom” – inside the market.

SpecialEurasia, an open-source intelligence and forecasting outlet, said in a report updated Tuesday that Iran’s internal security situation has reached what it called a “critical threshold” as economic grievances merge into broader political defiance.

The report said strikes and demonstrations have spread from Tehran’s commercial center to major cities, driven by a falling currency, resource shortages and renewed international pressure.

It said the protest tone has shifted from trade-related complaints to political slogans, which it described as a sign of weakening legitimacy among parts of the merchant class.

SpecialEurasia said the government appears to favor dialogue, while the security apparatus is preparing for “extended internal strife.”

The report linked the unrest to tightened external constraints and domestic shortages, highlighting risks from water and energy disruptions that could widen the protest base beyond traders.

It also warned that heavier policing could raise the risk of deaths and follow-on demonstrations, and that Iran’s internal instability could shape regional calculations by outside actors.