CIA calls on Iranian dissidents to make contact

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has posted a video in Persian on the X platform urging Iranian dissidents to make contact safely, Fox News reports.

The video provides detailed guidance on how to minimise the risk of detection – recommending anonymisation tools such as Tor or a VPN, the use of incognito mode in browsers and the avoidance of work computers or personal phones. The agency states that it ‘hears their voices’ and wishes to assist.

The appeal comes amid renewed anti-government protests at Iranian universities and ahead of another round of talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva. Meanwhile, CIA Director John Ratcliffe attended a classified briefing in Congress alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the situation as a ‘historic opportunity’ for an agreement, but reiterated that he would not relinquish the right to a peaceful nuclear programme, while maintaining that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons.

(mja)