Widespread protests over a currency crash and runaway inflation have spread to Iranian universities, where students have taken to campuses to press economic and political grievances. University leaders face pressure from Tehran amid mounting economic hardship and the risk of broader unrest disrupting academic calendars and research activities. The demonstrations add to a fraught operating environment for Iranian higher education: faculty and students cite loss of purchasing power, shrinking research budgets and travel constraints as immediate impacts. International partnerships and joint research projects risk interruption as universities shift to crisis management. Global research collaborators and funders should expect delays and increased risk in engagements with affected institutions while monitoring developments for safety and compliance implications.