A man holds an image of Reza Pahlavi, as people protest against the Iranian regime, following the death of Mahsa Amini, outside Iran’s consulate, in London, Britain, October 9, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

Item 1 of 3 A man holds an image of Reza Pahlavi, as people protest against the Iranian regime, following the death of Mahsa Amini, outside Iran’s consulate, in London, Britain, October 9, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/File Photo

Summary Exiled opposition leaders hope for regime change

Inside Iran activists are cautious on protests for now

Divisions may complicate any opposition moves

DUBAI, June 19 (Reuters) – Iran’s fragmented opposition groups think their moment may be close at hand, but activists involved in previous bouts of protest say they are unwilling to unleash mass unrest, even against a system they hate, with their nation under attack.

Exiled opponents of the Islamic Republic, themselves deeply divided, are urging street protests. In the borderlands, Kurdish and Baluchi separatist groups look poised to rise up, with Israeli strikes pummelling Iran’s security apparatus.

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While the Islamic Republic looks weaker than at nearly any point since soon after the 1979 revolution, any direct challenge to its 46-year rule would likely require some form of popular uprising.

Whether such an uprising is likely – or imminent – is a matter of debate.

The late shah’s son, U.S.-based Reza Pahlavi, said in media interviews this week he wants to lead a political transition, proclaiming it the best chance to topple the Islamic Republic in four decades and saying “this is our moment in history”.

Triggering regime change is certainly one war goal for Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressing Iranians to say “we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your freedom”.

Within a ruling system long adept at quashing public displays of dissent, there are signs it is readying for protests.

Mohammad Amin, a member of the Basij militia that is often deployed against protesters, said his unit in Qom had been put on alert to root out Israeli spies and protect the Islamic Republic.

However, while the strikes have targeted a security hierarchy that crushed previous bouts of protest, they have also caused great fear and disruption for ordinary people – and anger at both Iranian authorities and Israel, the activists said.

“How are people supposed to pour into the streets? In such horrifying circumstances, people are solely focused on saving themselves, their families, their compatriots, and even their pets,” said Atena Daemi, a prominent activist who spent six years in prison before leaving Iran.

MASS PROTESTS

Daemi’s concerns were also voiced by Iran’s most prominent activist, Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, in a social media post. Responding to an Israeli demand for people to evacuate parts of Tehran, she posted: “Do not destroy my city.”

Two other activists Reuters spoke to in Iran, who were among the hundreds of thousands involved in mass protests two years ago after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, said they also had no plans to demonstrate yet.

“After the strikes end we will raise our voices because this regime is responsible for the war,” said one, a university student in Shiraz, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.

Another, who had lost her university place and been jailed for five months after the 2022 protests and who also requested anonymity, said she believed in regime change in Iran but that it was not time to take to the streets.

She and her friends were not planning to stage or join rallies, she said, and dismissed calls from abroad for protests. “Israel and those so-called opposition leaders abroad only think about their own benefits,” she said.

Apart from Pahlavi’s monarchists, the main opposition faction outside Iran is the People’s Mujahideen Organisation, also known as the MEK or MKO. A revolutionary faction in the 1970s, it lost a power struggle after the shah was toppled.

Many Iranians have not forgiven it for then siding with Iraq during the stalemated war of 1980-88 and rights groups have accused it of abuses at its camps and of cult-like behaviour, both of which it denies.

The Mujahideen are the main force behind the National Council of Resistance of Iran, which like Pahlavi has cultivated close ties with some Western politicians. At a Paris forum this week, the council’s leader Maryam Rajavi reiterated her opposition to any return of the monarchy, saying “neither the shah nor the mullahs”.

How far opposition groups outside Iran enjoy any support inside the country is uncertain. While there is fond nostalgia among some Iranians for the period before the revolution, it is an era that most are too young to remember.

Within Iran, the successive rounds of national protests have also focused around differing issues. In 2009, demonstrators flooded the streets over what they saw as a stolen presidential election. In 2017, protests focused on falling living standards. And in 2022 women’s rights were the trigger.

Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the election candidate protesters said had been cheated in 2009, has been under house arrest for years and is now 83. His policy was to reform the Islamic Republic rather than replace it – the goal of many protesters in later movements.

For opponents of the Islamic Republic inside Iran, those unanswered questions of whether or when to stage protests, what agenda to pursue, or which leader to follow are only likely to grow more pressing as Israel’s airstrikes continue.

Reporting by Parisa Hafezi, writing by Angus McDowall, editing by Andrew Heavens

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French President Emmanuel Macron was struck by the mounting humanitarian crisis when he visited an Egyptian town on the border with Gaza in April.

– President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement that France would become the first Western member of the UN Security Council to recognise a Palestinian state in September has caused diplomatic ructions from the Middle East through Europe to Washington.

But it did not come out of the blue.

When Mr Macron visited the Egyptian town of Al-Arish on the border with Gaza in April, he was struck by the mounting humanitarian crisis and made clear on his return home that Paris would soon opt for recognition.

Working with Saudi Arabia, Mr Macron came up with a plan to have France plus Group of Seven allies Britain and Canada recognise Palestinian statehood, while pushing Arab states to adopt a softer stance towards Israel through a UN conference. But despite weeks of talks, he failed to get others on board.

Three diplomats said London did not want to face the wrath of the US, and Ottawa took a similar stance, leaving Mr Macron to go it alone.

“It became increasingly apparent that we could not wait to get partners on board,” said a French diplomat, adding that France will work to get more states on board ahead of the conference on a two-state solution in September.

Domestically, Mr Macron was under rising pressure to do something amid widespread anger at the harrowing images coming out of Gaza. Although, with both Europe’s biggest Muslim and Jewish communities and a polarised political landscape, there was no obvious course of action that would satisfy all sides.

Israel and its staunch supporter the US have blasted France’s move , branding it a reward for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which ran Gaza and whose attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023, triggered the current war.

Mr Macron had discussed the matter extensively with both US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in advance.

Mr Trump said on July 25 that France’s decision did not “carry any weight” but added that Mr Macron was “a good guy”.

Conference plan

French officials previously considered an announcement at a conference scheduled for June at the UN, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, to sketch out a road map to a viable Palestinian state while also ensuring Israel’s security. But the conference was postponed amid intense US diplomatic pressure and after Israeli air strikes on Iran.

Mr Macron’s announcement on July 24 is linked to a rescheduled and rejigged version of the UN conference, now scheduled to take place on July 28 and 29.

That meeting will be at ministerial level, but Paris decided it would hold a second event with heads of state and government on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September, where Mr Macron will announce formal recognition.

Some analysts say Mr Macron has used the carrot of recognition to extract concessions from Mr Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, which is a moderate rival to Hamas, and other regional players.

“Macron here is acting as a catalyst to get the Palestinians to deliver on the needed reforms, to get the Arabs to deliver on a stabilisation force and the disarming of Hamas,” said Ms Rym Momtaz, editor-in-chief of the Strategic Europe blog run by the Carnegie Europe think-tank.

Others say that while recognition has symbolic value, there will still be no functioning Palestinian state whenever the war in Gaza comes to an end.

“Recognition by a European heavyweight like France is indicative of the rising frustration with Israel’s intransigent policies,” said Mr Amjad Iraqi, senior analyst at International Crisis Group.

“What’s the point of recognising a state if they’re doing little to stop it from turning into ruins?”

French officials point to months of intense Israeli lobbying to try to prevent Mr Macron’s move – and Mr Netanyahu’s fierce criticism of it – as evidence that it matters a lot to Israeli leaders.

Sources familiar with the matter say Israel’s warnings to France had ranged from scaling back intelligence-sharing to complicating Paris’ regional initiatives – even hinting at possible annexation of parts of the West Bank.

But French officials concluded that Mr Netanyahu would do whatever he thought was in his interests in the West Bank anyway, regardless of what France did on recognition.

Israel’s Parliament voted on July 23 in favour of a non-binding declaration urging the government to apply Israeli law to the West Bank, widely seen as a de facto annexation of the territory. That added to the urgency in Paris.

“If there is a moment in history to recognise a Palestinian state, even if it’s just symbolic, then I would say that moment has probably come,” a senior French official said. REUTERS

U.S. President Donald Trump attends the Congressional Picnic at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

Summary U.S.-Iran nuclear talks uncertain after Israeli strikes

Trump convened advisers at Camp David for Iran discussions

Trump says he gave Iran 60 days for a deal, deadline passed

WASHINGTON, June 13 (Reuters) – After months of urging Israel not to strike Iran while he worked toward a nuclear deal, President Donald Trump told Reuters in a phone interview on Friday that he and his team had known the attacks were coming – and still saw room for an accord.

“We knew everything, and I tried to save Iran humiliation and death. I tried to save them very hard because I would have loved to have seen a deal worked out,” Trump said.

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“They can still work out a deal, however, it’s not too late,” he added.

Trump had repeatedly pushed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay an Israeli attack to give diplomacy more time, though the president himself had threatened to bomb the Gulf nation if nuclear talks failed.

Trump’s shifting stance around the Israeli strikes, which he called “excellent” and “very successful” in a series of media interviews on Friday, offered one of the most striking examples yet of how he conducts high-stakes negotiations through both frank public rhetoric and behind-the-scenes maneuvers.

The U.S. president offered support for Israel’s decision to launch a series of devastating raids in Iran, showing a willingness to embrace the use of military force to set back Tehran’s nuclear program. In contrast, some allies stressed the need for restraint.

Asked if the U.S. would support Israel against Iranian counterattacks, Trump said he supported Israel. He said he was not concerned about a regional war breaking out as a result of Israel’s strikes but did not elaborate.

“We’ve been very close to Israel. We’re their number one ally by far,” Trump told Reuters, adding, “We’ll see what happens.”

Later on Friday, two U.S. officials said the U.S. military had helped shoot down Iranian missiles headed toward Israel.

TALKS IN DOUBT

Still uncertain is whether Trump’s attempt to reach an agreement with Iran to halt uranium enrichment is still viable, with a sixth round of talks still scheduled for Sunday in Oman but now in doubt after the attacks.

In negotiations with Iran, Trump sought to persuade the Iranians to give up uranium enrichment and was awaiting a counter-proposal from Iran. Tehran had balked at giving up enrichment, seemingly leaving little room for an agreement.

As the week wore on, Trump sounded increasingly resigned to the prospect that Israel would strike and hinted that he knew more than he was willing to talk about publicly.

“I don’t want to say it’s imminent, but it looks like something that could very well happen. Look, it’s very simple, not complicated. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Other than that, I want them to be successful,” he told reporters on Thursday before the raids began.

Speaking to Reuters on Friday, Trump said he had given the Iranians 60 days to come to an agreement and that the time had expired with no deal.

“We knew just about everything,” he said. “We knew enough that we gave Iran 60 days to make a deal and today is 61, right? So, you know, we knew everything.”

Trump said it was unclear if Iran still has a nuclear program following Israeli strikes on the country.

“Nobody knows. It was a very devastating hit,” Trump said.

Israel said it had targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders at the start of what it warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.

Trump said the U.S. still has nuclear talks planned with Iran on Sunday but he was unsure they would take place. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff was scheduled to meet an Iranian delegation in Oman.

“They’re not dead,” Trump said of the U.S.-Iran talks. “We have a meeting with them on Sunday. Now, I’m not sure if that meeting will take place, but we have a meeting with them on Sunday.”

The president had convened his top national security advisers at Camp David on Sunday night for what he said were discussions that included Iran, and he spoke to Netanyahu on Monday about Iran.

A White House official said Trump spoke with Netanyahu again on Friday. Trump also held talks about the attacks with his National Security Council in the White House Situation Room. No details of the discussions were immediately available.

Reporting by Steve Holland; editing by Colleen Jenkins and Howard Goller

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Summary France shocked by string of crypto-related kidnappings

Crypto bosses step up security measures

French interior minister pledges security support

PARIS, May 16 (Reuters) – After watching frightening images of a prominent French crypto boss’ daughter being attacked on a Paris street during a botched kidnapping , crypto executive Alexandre Aimonino finds solace in the changes he has made to his daily routine.

To stay safe, the 23-year-old co-founder of a crypto compliance software company avoids public transport, skips industry get-togethers and varies his drive home.

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“Working in the ecosystem feels like having a target on your back,” Aimonino told Reuters.

French crypto bosses have reacted with fear and anger after a series of violent kidnappings. While some have stepped up security and are considering bodyguards, others are calling for the right to bear arms, a tougher crackdown on crime plus deregulation to keep the crypto paper trail more anonymous.

On Tuesday, a masked gang tried to abduct the daughter of Pierre Noizat, the CEO of the French crypto firm Paymium, from a street in Paris in broad daylight.

It was at least the third such attack in recent months.

In January, the co-founder of French crypto company Ledger and his wife were kidnapped, while in May the father of a crypto company head was snatched. All were rescued but both men lost a finger.

A ransom in cryptocurrency was paid during the kidnapping of the Ledger co-founder, but quickly recouped by investigators.

Details are murky about the gangs behind the attacks, though authorities have said 10 people were questioned after the Ledger attack and seven people were arrested following the first kidnapping in May, with two released for having no connection.

The Paris prosecutors’ office did not respond to detailed questions from Reuters.

The rapid rise in the price of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in recent years has created a new group of wealthy investors.

Security experts interviewed by Reuters said criminals could be tempted by investors posting evidence of their new wealth, as well as the perception that crypto is easier to launder than cash.

Cryptocurrency has long been demanded as ransom in hacks and cyberattacks, and regulators around the world are trying to crack down on crypto’s use by criminals.

Item 1 of 2 A man walks on Rue Pache street, near the location where a masked gang attempted to kidnap the daughter of a crypto businessman, in Paris, France, May 14, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo [1/2] A man walks on Rue Pache street, near the location where a masked gang attempted to kidnap the daughter of a crypto businessman, in Paris, France, May 14, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

“Crypto transactions are more likely to escape the level of scrutiny applied to traditional banking systems,” said Michael Lyons, a lawyer specialising in anti-money laundering at Clifford Chance.

‘GRUESOME, BRAZEN’

For some, the attacks are a symptom of France’s growing violent crime problem.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau met with some crypto bosses on Friday, offering “full mobilisation of public authorities” to prioritise access to emergency police services and offer security checks of homes.

One of those present, another Ledger co-founder Eric Larcheveque, said the attacks could cause people in crypto to leave France and asked for more legal protection for those acting in self-defence including the right to carry guns.

Noizat’s company Paymium suggested deregulation could provide founders with more security.

In a statement on Wednesday, Paymium criticized European regulations like the international “travel rule” which requires data to be collected about the source and recipient of crypto transfers.

Some crypto bosses are taking measures into their own hands.

Thomas Rossi, who runs bodyguard company Wagram in Paris, said he had many new requests after Tuesday’s attack.

Sofiane Aboubeker, CEO of French security company ARECIA, also said he had seen an increase in requests for protection.

Ben Davis, who runs an insurance brokerage in the UK for crypto clients, said that while France was facing a particular wave of attacks, there had also previously been incidents in the United States, elsewhere in Europe, and around Asia.

“Two years ago, kidnap and ransom wasn’t really a big problem. No one really wanted to talk about it. Now 100% of our clients are talking about it,” he said.

Davis, also a crypto investor, said he has taken steps to increase his own security, but declined to give details: “These attacks are again becoming more gruesome, more brazen.”

Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft, Manuel Ausloos and Lewis Macdonald in Paris, editing by Gabriel Stargardter and Andrew Cawthorne

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Chilean presidential candidate Jose Antonio Kast from the far-right Republican Party meets with his supporters during a campaign rally, ahead of the December 19 second round presidential elections, in Vina del Mar, Chile, December 6, 2021. REUTERS/Rodrigo Garrido/Files Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

SANTIAGO, Dec 15 (Reuters) – Chilean ultra-conservative presidential candidate Jose Antonio Kast, sometimes likened to Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro and a defender of former dictator General Augusto Pinochet, is riding a wave of voter anger and fear over immigration and crime.

The 55-year-old lawyer, a Catholic and father of nine, will compete against leftist lawmaker Gabriel Boric, twenty years his junior, in a polarized and delicately balanced run-off election on Sunday. He is marginally behind in opinion polls , opens new tab

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Although softly spoken, Kast promises a tough approach on crime and a streamlined state. He has attacked Boric over his alliance with Chile’s Communist Party within a wide leftist coalition and posed himself as a defender of stability.

“This December we won’t just elect a president, we will choose between liberty and communism,” he said in a speech after he came top in the first-round vote in November.

He has since softened his rhetoric, helping win over some moderate voters and narrow the gap on Boric, but has kept a focus on law and order.

“Tough times are coming and a government that provides stability is required, one that speaks the truth,” Kast said in the final debate with Boric on Monday night.

The candidate for the right-wing Christian Social Front coalition, Kast has praised , opens new tab the legacy of Pinochet, whose bloody rule in the 1970s and 1980s established much of Chile’s market-oriented economic system. That chimes with some voters, who still admire the former dictator.

“If he were alive he would vote for me,” he told local newspaper La Tercera in 2017 when campaigning then – unsuccessfully – to be president. “If I had met him now, we would have had a cup of tea at La Moneda (presidential palace).”

Kast has played up his credentials as a flagbearer of Chile’s “unapologetic” right wing, which has hardened in response to the rise of the progressive political left in the wake of angry and sometimes violent street protests in 2019.

“They call us intolerant and extreme, because we speak the truth and say things head-on. Unlike the left, we have never endorsed violence,” Kast wrote on Twitter in October.

The conservative has pledged to build back economic growth and “restore” order after the 2019 protests, which saw buildings around capital Santiago burned and thousands injured in street conflicts with the police.

Critics say his treatment of the political class – he has called Congress a “circus” – and proposals that have included building a ditch to curb illegal immigration are reminiscent of right-wing populist leaders like Bolsonaro and former U.S. President Donald Trump.

He has downplayed those comparisons.

“We want to unite, we want to dialogue with everyone, regardless of political hue,” he told business leaders last month. “I am a direct and frank person, but I am always respectful.”

Reporting by Natalia Ramos; Additional reporting by Sarah Marsh in Berlin; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Rosalba O’Brien

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