In a bold statement, former US National Security Advisor John Bolton claims that subversive elements in Iran, which he dubbed “the opposition”, are arming themselves with weapons stolen from Basij forces and smuggled from Iraq's Kurdistan.

Bolton made the remarks during an interview with the London-based BBC Persian TV channel.

“The Iranian opposition is now being armed, with weapons seized from the Basij, or weapons entering Iran from Iraqi Kurdistan. This reveals the perspective that the systematic effort of the opposition not only to protest but to use coercive force against the government, with the message that we are no longer unarmed, and can fight against the IRGC. This shows that the position of the Islamic Republic is more vulnerable than ever,” he said.

BBC Persian TV's Senior Presenter, Iranian-British journalist Rana Rahimpour, who has recently unknowingly revealed in a leaked audio that the real purpose of provoking the riots in Iran is to divide the country, attempted to comment on Bolton's claims to refute them, in order to stick to the BBC's narrative: “Although Mr. Bolton, there is still no evidence that the protestors that have taken to the streets are armed."

She then asked, "The US’ Midterm elections are tomorrow, if the House of Representatives were to fall into the hands of Republicans, how much do you think this would impact America’s policy toward Iran,” she added.

However, Bolton insisted on proving that the protestors were armed, stressing: “Well let me just say, there are social media reports and videos coming out of Iran that do show that the opposition has weapons, that show security forces running from the opposition, and there have even been fire exchanges, and I don’t believe that government suppression, especially in Kurdistan…I don’t think the people of Kurdistan would tolerate it”.

Regime change through violence

Elsewhere in his remark, Bolton expressed hope the continuing riots in Iran would result in "regime change”.

The former US National Security Advisor drew a parallel between the 2009 protests in major cities across Iran following former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's election victory and the recent riots.

In a shocking revelation, Bolton said that the subversive groups' plan is to utilize coercive action against the Iranian government to send the message that it is no longer defenseless and can face the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

This comes a few days after a White House official downplayed the possibility of “regime change in Iran”, claiming that US President Joe Biden was expressing unity with Iranian demonstrators after saying, "We're going to free Iran."

“The President was expressing our solidarity with the protesters as he’s been doing, quite frankly, from the very outset,” National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby said last Friday.

In recent times, Iran has witnessed riots that have led to the killing and injuring of civilians and security forces.

It is noteworthy that in late October, the Iranian Intelligence Ministry and the IRGC's intelligence wing revealed that intelligence obtained by Tehran indicates that the CIA and allied intelligence services planned a conspiracy in Iran against the Islamic Republic.

Read more: Dirty money: Meet the US agent driving the CIA-led riots in Iran

Leaked: BBC Persian journalist says media conspiring to weaken Iran

A leaked audio recording for BBC Persian TV's Senior Presenter, Iranian-British journalist Rana Rahimpour, revealed the real purpose of provoking the riots in Iran recently.

In the recording, Rahimpour said, "Iran International [backed by Saudi Arabia] instructed its employees to only conduct television interviews with leaders of anti-regime parties in Iran."

Rahimpour added, "The disturbing news that I heard yesterday is that the directors of Iran International directed their employees to only conduct television interviews with the leaders of the anti-regime parties in Iran; I mean the leaders of the Kurdish, Lur, Arab, and other parties...this is very worrying."

She pointed out that "the countries of the region do not want a democratic Iran, and if democracy is implemented and the feminist movement moves forward and women take their rights, Saudi Arabia will be the first to experience fear and panic," according to Rahimpour.

The Iranian journalist pointed out, "These people do not care about Iran's future; They are now playing the drums of dividing the country because they want a weak Iran."