In an interview with Le Figaro, senior reporter and Middle East specialist Emmanuel Razavi facing a "true revolution" that has pushed its leaders to explore possible extreme measure to ensure their survival. According to Razavi, the situation has deteriorated so rapidly that high-ranking officials are eyeing France as a primary target for their potential escape, if needed.
Razavi paints a picture of a government paralyzed by a convergence of economic devastation and widespread social unrest. "The regime is probably at a turning point in its 47-year history because it does not know how to respond today to this social, political, and economic crisis, which is setting the whole of Iran on fire," Razavi stated.
The protests, which began on December 28 over the high cost of living, have evolved into a movement explicitly rejecting the Islamic Republic. Citing a study by the Gaman Foundation, Razavi noted that "81% of Iranians no longer want the Islamic Republic. There really has been a rupture in Iran for years regarding political Islam."
Iran : «Depuis 24h, des hauts dignitaires du clan réformateur - dont le président de l'Assemblée islamique - tentent d'obtenir des visas français pour leurs familles via un avocat parisien», révèle le grand reporter Emmanuel Razavi (@erazavi3) dans l'émission «Points de Vue». pic.twitter.com/c5XSXZjNDW
— Le Figaro (@Le_Figaro) January 7, 2026
The economic drivers of this unrest are severe. "Iranian money is worth nothing," Razavi explained, noting that the exchange rate has plummeted to nearly 1.6 million rials to the dollar. "People no longer have the means to feed themselves... in Iran right now, people are struggling to find rice."
Unlike previous uprisings concentrated in major hubs, Razavi highlighted a strategic shift in the current unrest. "We are seeing many small and medium-sized cities – which is quite surprising – being touched by the unrest," he observed. He explained that in these areas, security apparatuses like the Basij militia are "less significant than in the big cities," making it "easier to make them fall."
Razavi reported seeing "police officers fraternizing with protesters" and confirmed that "the movement and the demonstrations are continuing... the entire country is involved."
As the ground shifts beneath them, regime insiders are reportedly breaking ranks. "A part of the Iranian dignitaries, particularly from the reformist clan, are starting to defect," Razavi revealed. He noted that President Massoud Pezeshkian is "seeing part of his entourage defect, making contact with foreign services but also with opposition movements."
Razavi was unsparing in his characterization of these officials. "It is a mafia clan," he told Le Figaro. "It is a clan that is involved in large-scale drug trafficking, notably with Colombian, Venezuelan, and Mexican mafias for years. Arms trafficking, prostitution, art trafficking."
Perhaps the most explosive revelation from the interview is the scramble by these officials to secure a safe haven in Europe. Razavi detailed a specific and recent development regarding their exit strategy. "Since precisely 24 hours, several personalities from the reformist clan have requested visas," Razavi stated. "Or at least are attempting, via a Parisian lawyer, to obtain French visas for their families." In a separate interview with the French outlet NRP, he said that president of the Islamic Assembly (parliament) Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, was among them.
When asked why they would target France, Razavi pointed to historical ties. "It is true that for some years these reformists have had very, very good relations with... the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs," he noted, suggesting these officials are trying "to purchase life insurance, of course, by betraying."
He noted that the regime was "trembling," a claimed that the opposition groups – including monarchists, centrists, and Kurds – were synchronized. "We clearly see a convergence taking place, which is historic after 47 years," he said, noting that these groups are largely "democratic and secular."
However, he warned that the transition will be complex. "If the regime falls, we must immediately ensure the continuity of the State," Razavi concluded. "It cannot happen with a snap of the fingers... there must be defections – people, civil servants who are capable of continuing to ensure the functioning of the administration."
