End of despised terror group
Did it truly require 42 years, spanning from June 20, 1981 to June 20, 2023, for the followers of the terrorist Mujahedeen Khalq Organization (MKO) to come to terms with its true nature? This particular date marked the beginning of the MKO’s open defiance and armed conflict against the newly stablished Islamic Republic of Iran. While it initially held promise for the organization’s leaders and members as a means to seize power in Iran and serve the people, it also marked the onset of a decline characterized by abandonment of their idealistic claims, a descent into malevolent paths, and ultimately, betrayal of the nation resulting in widespread animosity and forced exile.
The MKO’s failure to effectively challenge the Islamic Republic through armed confrontation pushed them into a realm of seeking revenge and resorting to blind acts of terror. As the war launched by the Iraqi Baath regime, led by Saddam Hussein, unfolded against Iran, the MKO’s activities transformed into acts of treachery. Its members began by divulging intelligence to the enemy forces and subsequently establishing a presence in Iraq, officially aligning themselves with the invading army and launching attacks against the Iranian people. The organization’s illusory military aspirations were dealt a severe blow in 1988, following the conclusion of the Iran-Iraq war, with Operation Forough Javidan. This operation resulted in a crushing defeat and the crippling of their military capabilities.
Following this defeat, the MKO leadership shifted their focus toward bomb attacks, acts of vandalism, and targeted assassinations. Official statistics indicate that throughout their campaign against the Islamic Republic, the MKO has been responsible for the assassination of approximately 17,000 Iranian citizens and officials.
The ousting of Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq dealt a significant blow to this widely despised group. The removal of the protective cover provided by the Iraqi dictator laid bare the undeniable fact that terrorists had no place in Iraq. Consequently, they were compelled to abandon their bases in Iraq and were relocated to Albania, a European nation, under the auspices of Western supporters, primarily led by the United States.
After their military endeavors to overthrow the Islamic Republic proved unsuccessful, the terrorists redirected their attention toward political pursuits, receiving support from Western nations, all while persisting in their acts of terrorism. Each year, they meticulously orchestrated elaborate shows on various pretexts to showcase their presence and relevance. The participation of political figures, as well as certain European or American officials who harbored opposition to the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the organization’s propaganda events, served as a source of encouragement for the MKO leaders and members. Such events made them believe that they enjoyed substantial backing from Western governments, although their presence and the expenses incurred for organizing such programs undoubtedly cost the MKO an arm and a leg.
Prominent figures such as Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York and a close associate of former US president Donald Trump, John Bolton, the former US national security advisor, Bernard Kouchner, the former German foreign minister, Stephen Harper, the former Canadian prime minister, Philippe Douste-Blazy, the former French foreign minister, and Fatmir Mediu, the chairman of the Republican Party of Albania, have been featured speakers at conferences hosted by the MKO.
These spendthrift shows and victim playing failed to rally support for the MKO inside Iran. Over the past four decades, due to their ideologies and actions against the Iranian people, the Mujahedeen organization has lost all credibility, not only among Iran’s overseas opposition but also among dissident factions within the country. A survey conducted in 2022 by an opposition organization presented 34 candidates for the chair the self-proclaimed opposition leadership council. Maryam Rajavi, following the disappearance and presumed death of her husband Massoud Rajavi, the group’s primary leader, was ranked last in this poll. The organization’s lack of credibility within Iran is so apparent that in October 2018, Elizabeth Stickney, a Farsi-speaking spokesperson for the US Department of State, stated in an interview with Deutsche Welle television network, “We have previously stated and continue to maintain that the MKO has no standing among the people of Iran.”
The terrorists operating in Albania encountered significant challenges. Firstly, they observed a surge in animosity from their intended target, namely the Iranian nation. Additionally, they were simultaneously grappling with escalating setbacks in their activities that were detrimental to the general public. These setbacks were primarily caused by the effectiveness of the Islamic Republic’s intelligence forces. Furthermore, they were also contending with a surge of defections.
The political standing also suffered a decline both among governments and public opinion worldwide. In response, they sought to expand their activities in the realm of cyber warfare and malicious online propaganda by recruiting mercenaries. However, they failed to gain any success the virtual space.
The accumulated experience of over four decades of perpetrating acts of terror and betrayal against the Iranian people was not something that could be erased or disregarded through democratic gestures, claims of upholding human rights, or victim playing by anyone who was well-informed about the MKO’s track record.
It appears that the expiration date has finally come for certain European and American governments regarding their association with the MKO. For the first time in 15 years, the French government, which had been the organization’s main political sanctuary and headquarters, refused to grant them permission for their annual gathering in Paris. Another noteworthy development occurred when Albanian police carried out an operation against the organization’s camp near Tirana on Tuesday, in accordance with a ruling by the Supreme Court on organized crime, specifically terrorism. The clash between police and the organization’s members ensued due to the resistance put forth by the MKO members.
In an official statement, the Albanian Ministry of Interior announced the police operation was carried out due to the group’s violation of the agreements and commitments made in 2014. Back in 2014, the MKO agreed to settle in Albania solely for humanitarian purposes and avoid engaging in any other activities. However, the group failed to fulfill its obligations and breached the agreement. According to a reliable security source cited by the Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency (IRNA), two members of the terrorist group were killed, 36 were wounded, and 70 were arrested during the raid. Additionally, the spokesperson for the US State Department released a statement expressing support for the Albanian government’s right to investigate potential illegal activities taking place within its territory.
The recent events in France and Albania, which have taken a stance against the MKO, along with the implicit endorsement from the US State Department regarding the Albanian government’s actions, appear to be significant pieces of the puzzle that contribute to the downfall of Rajavi’s terrorists. The rejected terrorists no longer hold appeal for their once-supportive entities. However, one must question whether it had to take 40 years to reach this point. It seems that the political games played by certain Western governments, utilizing criminals as leverage against the Islamic Republic, required giving them a 40-year window to carry out assassinations. Otherwise, the fate of the MKO in Iran could have been anticipated as early as June 20, 1981, marking the year when their destiny was sealed with the label of “void.”