The disciplinary action follows a wave of nationwide unrest that began in December as demonstrations over rising living costs and later evolved into broader anti-establishment protests. The movement reached its peak in January before continuing in smaller forms on university campuses across the country.

According to the Fars news agency, the university’s Disciplinary Committee issued separate preliminary rulings ordering the expulsion of six students for their alleged participation in unrest that took place in February.

Fars reported that the students were accused of organizing and leading unauthorized gatherings, using language deemed insulting by authorities, engaging in activities considered hostile to the Islamic Republic, and committing other disciplinary violations.

The report did not indicate whether the students face separate criminal proceedings in Iran’s judicial system, including before revolutionary courts, which frequently handle cases involving national security and political offenses.

Among the allegations cited by Fars was the display and promotion of the Lion and Sun emblem, a historic national symbol that appeared on Iran’s flag before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The emblem is often associated with opponents of the current political system and supporters of exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi.

Sharif University of Technology, widely regarded as Iran’s most prestigious engineering and scientific institution, has historically been a focal point for student activism and political debate.

The protests that spread across Iran earlier this year drew international attention and prompted criticism from foreign human rights organizations, which accused authorities of carrying out a harsh crackdown. Iranian officials have rejected those accusations, maintaining that violence during the unrest was driven by individuals they describe as terrorists backed by the United States and Israel.

Neither the university nor Iranian authorities immediately released additional details regarding the disciplinary rulings or the appeals process available to the affected students.

The ceremonies mark the final phase of national mourning for Khamenei, who was killed in Israeli and US strikes in February, according to Iranian state media reports.

The funeral proceedings are expected to start in Tehran before moving through additional stages of national observance ahead of burial at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam.

Khamenei led the Islamic Republic for more than three decades, having assumed power in 1989 following the death of Iran’s founding Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. His death has triggered a prolonged transition period within Iran’s political and religious leadership structure.

State media did not provide additional details on security arrangements for the ceremonies, which come amid heightened regional tensions following months of conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

The announcement follows earlier postponements of funeral arrangements amid security concerns and ongoing instability in the region.