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Iran Opposition Protests in Washington for Regime Change

Effigies of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (L) and supreme leader Ali Khamenei (R) are seen at anti-regime rallies in Washington on March 8, 2019. (AFP)
Effigies of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (L) and supreme leader Ali Khamenei (R) are seen at anti-regime rallies in Washington on March 8, 2019. (AFP)
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Iran Opposition Protests in Washington for Regime Change

Effigies of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (L) and supreme leader Ali Khamenei (R) are seen at anti-regime rallies in Washington on March 8, 2019. (AFP)
Effigies of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (L) and supreme leader Ali Khamenei (R) are seen at anti-regime rallies in Washington on March 8, 2019. (AFP)

Hundreds of people protested in Washington Friday against Iran, demanding a change in its regime and denouncing its "atrocity toward the people".

Protesters waved Iranian flags as they chanted for "regime change now" -- with some holding portraits of Maryam Rajavi, leader of the People's Mujahedin, an Iranian opposition group banned in the country, reported AFP.

"The regime inside Iran is doing so much atrocity toward the people. Iran whole has been destroyed by this regime," said Michael Passi, an Iranian-American engineer.

"There are a lot of executions, a lot of tortures and a lot of export of terrorism by this regime," he alleged.

"We want separation of religion and the state," added Mina Entezari, an Arizona-based designer who was a political prisoner in Iran for seven years. "We want freedom for people."

The administration of US President Donald Trump consistently blasts a lack of freedoms in Iran and its "destabilizing" influence on the Middle East.

A firm adversary of Tehran, he has re-implemented harsh economic sanctions -- but Washington insists it is not pushing for regime change, only a change to Iran's policy in areas including missile development and support for militant groups.

"I'm 100 percent behind President Trump's policy," Passi said. "The only language that this Iranian regime understands is a language of force."

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Nepal PM Says Nation Facing ‘Unimaginable’ Disaster

A drone view of the aftermath of flash flooding along the Trishuli river amidst fresh water surge warning in the Trishuli Bazaar area of Nuwakot district, Nepal, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP)
A drone view of the aftermath of flash flooding along the Trishuli river amidst fresh water surge warning in the Trishuli Bazaar area of Nuwakot district, Nepal, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP)
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Nepal PM Says Nation Facing ‘Unimaginable’ Disaster

A drone view of the aftermath of flash flooding along the Trishuli river amidst fresh water surge warning in the Trishuli Bazaar area of Nuwakot district, Nepal, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP)
A drone view of the aftermath of flash flooding along the Trishuli river amidst fresh water surge warning in the Trishuli Bazaar area of Nuwakot district, Nepal, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP)

Nepal is facing an "unimaginable and heartbreaking" disaster with authorities struggling to assess the full scale of devastating floods that have killed hundreds, Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said.

The huge wave of ice, rocks and debris that smashed into villages and towns on Wednesday has claimed at least 797 lives in both Nepal and Tibet, across the border in China.

"Our country has been facing an unimaginable and heartbreaking natural disaster," Shah said in a social media post late Sunday.

"The devastating floods in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa have made it extremely difficult to collect a complete account of the loss of life, property, and infrastructure," he added.

"Although this task remains challenging due to adverse weather, difficult terrain, and ongoing risks, we are moving forward with determination to protect the lives of the citizens."

At least 3,048 people remain missing, including many tourists and pilgrims to Tibet's Mount Kailash.

Shah, a 36-year-old rapper-turned-politician widely known as "Balen", faces the enormous task of rebuilding communities and critical infrastructure.

Nepal's economy is already under pressure, with limited resources to respond to a disaster of this scale.

The disaster came ahead of the anniversary of last year's September 8-9 mass anti-corruption protests that toppled the previous government.

Shah's party swept elections in March on a wave of euphoria calling for change.

"We will succeed in overcoming this crisis through our unity and collective efforts," he said of the floods.

World

Trump Says Iran's Kharg is Being 'Blown to Smithereens', But Gives No Details

FILE PHOTO: A satellite image shows an oil terminal at Kharg Island, Iran, February 25, 2026. 2026 Planet Labs PBC/Handout via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: A satellite image shows an oil terminal at Kharg Island, Iran, February 25, 2026. 2026 Planet Labs PBC/Handout via REUTERS
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Trump Says Iran's Kharg is Being 'Blown to Smithereens', But Gives No Details

FILE PHOTO: A satellite image shows an oil terminal at Kharg Island, Iran, February 25, 2026. 2026 Planet Labs PBC/Handout via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: A satellite image shows an oil terminal at Kharg Island, Iran, February 25, 2026. 2026 Planet Labs PBC/Handout via REUTERS

Iran's energy hub of Kharg Island is being blown to smithereens, US President Donald Trump said on Sunday in a one-line social media post accompanied by an AI-generated video clip.

There was no other evidence that the Iranian energy hub was under attack. The White House and the US Defense Department did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment outside regular business hours.

There was no immediate response to Trump's post on Iranian media.

"Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!! President DJT," Trump said on social media, but gave no further details.

Reuters confirmed that an accompanying video clip showing dramatic explosions was most likely synthetically-generated, using software that detects AI-manipulated imagery.

Attacking Kharg, which handled 90% of Iran's oil exports before the war launched by US and Israeli attacks on February 28, would severely disrupt its energy trade and put huge pressure on its economy.

Iran responded to an earlier US ‌attack on rocket launchers on ‌its island of Larak, about 660 km (410 miles) east of Kharg, with an assault ‌on two ⁠US bases in ⁠Jordan, Iranian media said.

The return to hostilities followed weeks in which the Trump administration has stepped up efforts to punish Tehran and its business partners with costly economic sanctions, shifting away from military options.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Reuters on Sunday new secondary sanctions were likely to be unveiled weekly in the effort to pressure Iran, with an initial focus on banks.

"We're starting with the banks, and we're telling the banks it's not okay to have Iranian money and to aid the regime," Bessent said in an interview.

After imposing penalties on the United Arab Emirates branches of Egypt's Banque Misr on Friday over alleged financial links to Iran, Bessent said the next step ⁠may be cutting off an institution entirely from the dollar-based financial system.

"You're going to see a ‌lot more of these every week," Bessent told Reuters, ahead of a meeting ‌of Group of 20 finance leaders.

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Bessent Expects New US Secondary Sanctions Weekly, Aiming to Increase Pressure on Iran

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Asheville, NC, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Asheville, NC, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP)
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Bessent Expects New US Secondary Sanctions Weekly, Aiming to Increase Pressure on Iran

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Asheville, NC, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Asheville, NC, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP)

The US Treasury Department is likely to unveil weekly new secondary sanctions aimed at increasing economic pressure on Iran, with an initial focus on banks, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Reuters on Sunday.

After imposing penalties on the United Arab Emirates branches of Egypt's Banque Misr on Friday over ‌alleged financial links ‌to Iran, Bessent said ‌in ⁠an interview that the ⁠next step may be cutting off an institution entirely from the dollar-based financial system.

"You're going to see a lot more of these every week," Bessent said ahead of a Group of 20 finance leaders meeting. "We're ⁠starting with the banks, and ‌we're telling the ‌banks it's not okay to have Iranian money and ‌to aid the regime."

Bessent said he ‌intends to drive the message home to G20 finance ministers and central bank governors to cut economic ties to Iran, or face secondary sanctions. ‌The Treasury launched the effort, dubbed Operation Economic Outcast, last week.

"There can ⁠be ⁠no leakage," Bessent said. "You're either with us or you're with the Iranians."

However, he said that he disagreed with some critics who have said that Iran sanctions will not be successful without targeting Chinese companies for secondary sanctions.

Most of China's Iran oil purchases have been curbed by the US blockade of Iranian ports, and the amount of Iranian oil stored in tankers is dwindling, he said, adding: "Problem solved."