Student Day in Iran Date in the current year: December 7, 2024

In August 1953, Prime Minister of Iran Mohammad Mosaddegh was overthrown in a coup backed by the United States and the United Kingdom. Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi became an absolute monarch and initiated the process of radical westernization.

On December 7, 1953, students of University of Tehran went on strike in protest at Richard Nixon's visit to Iran and resumption of the diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom. The police opened fire on the demonstrators, killing three students who belonged to opposition movements.

After Western-oriented Pahlavi regime was overthrown during the 1979 Revolution and Iran became an Islamic republic, December 7 was designated as Students Day. It is marked both by secular and religious student movements with local demonstrations organized at many universities.

The government of Iran typically organizes a national demonstration which sometimes clashes with protests organized by students. For example, on December 7, 2009, students broke out in protests in opposition to the presidential election.