Iranians students chant slogans as they demonstrate following a tribute for the victims of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737.

The familiar “Death to America!” chants in Iran turned into an anti-government “Death to liars!” chorus during spontaneous protests in Tehran on Saturday.

Thousands of students took to the streets of the capital in what began as a vigil for the 16 students killed when Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner on Wednesday, but somber gathering transformed into a passionate rally for regime change.

They called out the country’s military and the mullahs who run the Islamic republic.

They shouted for the Revolutionary Guards to “let go of the country” and, “Death to the dictator!” referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“All these years of crimes, down with the velayat!” students chanted, using a word that refers to the mullahs’ regime.

The crowds formed at Amir Kabir University and at least three other colleges and carried a message diametrically opposed to the one heard from the millions who had amassed for Gen. Qassem Soleimani’s funeral procession through multiple cities last week.

The vast crowds compelled to publicly mourn for Soleimani chanted, “Death to America,” but the students on the streets Saturday turned on the Quds Force leader.

“Soleimani was a murderer, his leader is, too!” was one chant heard Saturday. Posters of the general that had been hung for his funeral were torn down, videos posted online showed.

The students’ anger was sparked by Iran’s admission that Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 had been shot out of the sky by its own missile, killing all 176 people aboard.

Some of the students held up a banner that read, “F- -k you & your mistake!” and had the names and photos of the 16 Iranian students who died in the disaster.

They chanted, “Bisharaf!” a Farsi word for “dishonorable” that is considered one of the worst insults in the culture, and demanded officials involved in the missile attack be removed from their positions and tried.

“People haven’t died for us to praise the leader!” some protesters said.

Officials cracked down violently.

Security forces in riot gear used tear gas to disperse the crowds. Online videos showed protesters being beaten by security forces.

Raman Ghavani, an analyst based in London and the Middle East, tweeted that some security forces also shot live ammunition.

“Shame on you, shame on you!” the crowds chanted at the security forces as they dispersed. “No fear! We’re all together!”

Rob Macaire, the British ambassador to Tehran, was detained briefly, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Saturday.

“The arrest of our Ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law,” Raab tweeted.

The students’ fury reflected more longstanding frustration with high unemployment and an economy stifled by sanctions.

In November, 1,500 people were killed in two weeks of protests against gas-price hikes, according to internal government reports provided to Reuters. Government forces used a series of tactics, from shutting the Internet down to shooting protesters from rooftops and helicopters in what was called the bloodiest crackdown since the 1979 revolution.

Although they began peacefully, the demonstrations turned violent, with banks, cars, stores and even a statue of the nation’s founding leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, set ablaze.

Khamenei, the current ruler, issued an order to do whatever it took to stop the protesters, according to Reuters.

Those 1,500 were remembered in chants at Saturday’s protests.

President Trump expressed support for the protesters Saturday.

“To the brave and suffering Iranian people: I have stood with you since the beginning of my presidency and my government will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely. Your courage is inspiring,” Trump tweeted on Saturday.

Warning against human-rights abuses, he added later, “The world is watching.”

With Post wires