NCRI

Iran’s Regime Warns of MEK Threat Amid Fierce Internal Conflict

Mohammad Sadat Khansari

 

Three-minute read

Despite the ongoing internal power struggle within Iran’s leadership over the new government, the regime remains acutely aware of the existential threat posed by domestic dissent and an enemy that persists in spreading its influence in society. While news about the factional feud continues to dominate the headlines, officials still can’t help but warn about the Iranian Resistance.

On July 22, in a meeting with the Supreme Judicial Council, Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei emphasized the need for what he called “a comprehensive and detailed exposure of the actions of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) during the 1980s Iran-Iraq War and beyond.”

“In this regard, the media and those with a platform have a critical responsibility,” the head of the Judiciary added. “Even during the trial of several members of this group, it is possible to address the extent of their crimes and the actions of their supporters to the extent possible. The world must know that in the 1980s and even after, all kinds of support, including military, logistical, and training, were provided to the MEK, and now they continue to shelter them.”

Ahmad Salek, a former intelligence officer and parliament member, described the recent sham presidential election as a strategic move by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to ensure high voter turnout, which he described as essential for maintaining the regime’s power and internal cohesion. “The leader’s emphasis on maximum participation is because it can lead to strength and internal unity. The enemies, including the MEK, aimed to reduce turnout in the elections,” Salek stated.

The state-run news outlet Mardomsalari highlighted the effectiveness of the Iranian Resistance in raising awareness about the regime’s atrocities and its increasing international isolation.

The newspaper wrote, “In the UK, both the House of Commons and the House of Lords are heavily influenced by the propaganda of the MEK and factions associated with the Zionist regime. Bob Blackman, who was sanctioned by Iran last year, is one of the MPs who held several sessions in Parliament to discuss the human rights situation in Iran. By presenting fabricated statistics from the MEK about the 2022 unrest, he facilitated the issuance of several statements against Iran. Consequently, nearly all British lawmakers (including current government members) have been convinced by these biased sessions that Iran is a human rights violator. They are also uniformly calling for the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a so-called terrorist organization under the influence of these narratives.”

Mohammad Javad Hashemi-Nejad, head of the Habilian Association, which is linked to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence, expressed alarm over the growing support for the Iranian Resistance. “The European Union once listed the MEK as a terrorist group. We have seen U.S. support for this group, to the extent that Maryam Rajavi addressed the US Congress via video conference, gaining the support of over 90% of its members. Our effective actions must be backed by scientific and legal support, which is why we seek assistance from respected academics to pursue these issues legally,” he explained in a meeting at the Allameh Tabataba’i University.

In the same meeting, Majid Abbasi, the head of the university’s Law School said, “During the 2022 unrest, we saw that the Americans handed the leadership of this movement to Maryam Rajavi, one of the well-known terrorists; hence, terrorism was of no concern to them.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Intelligence Esmaeil Khatib announced a tenfold increase in the ministry’s budget, reflecting the regime’s heightened sense of threat. “With advanced technological and widespread intelligence and security developments worldwide, we managed to expand our security infrastructure with a tenfold budget increase, thanks to President Raisi, the parliament, and the budget law,” Khatib said.

Furthermore, the Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir, speaking on state television, detailed a repressive new plan targeting students. “We are implementing a program called the School Judge Plan under the Social and Crime Prevention Deputy’s agenda. We aim to protect students, improve their environment, and educate them about their rights to identify and avoid threats and crimes around them,” he revealed.

Aware of the MEK’s increasing appeal among Iranian youth, students, and academics, the regime has deployed numerous secret and overt organizations, thousands of surveillance cameras, and both visible and covert patrols across the country. It also heavily restricts internet access in an attempt to curb the inevitable gravitation of the revolutionary generation towards the MEK, an organization with a 60-year history of resistance against both monarchical and clerical dictatorships.

Whether the regime will succeed after 45 years remains uncertain, but its officials’ persistent statements and ongoing actions against the organization may offer an answer.

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