Kumar Bahukhandi
IRGC commandos chant slogans in front of a missile. (File Photo: Reuters)
The Mujahideen-e-Khalq is an opposition organisation to the Iranian government. The organisation claimed that its fighters carried out an operation near the residence of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Several Iranian commanders were killed, but 100 of its fighters were also killed.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have killed 100 Mujahideen-e-Khalq fighters. The Mujahideen-e-Khalq is an Iranian opposition organisation currently active against the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The clash between the IRGC and Mujahideen-e-Khalq troops, loyal to Ali Khamenei, occurred when the Shia-Marxist group attempted to carry out an operation near the Tehran headquarters of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran’s state-run media agency, Tasnim News Agency, and the Hezbollah-affiliated Al Akhbar also confirmed the clash and the death toll.
The group said that by Monday night, more than 150 other MEK insurgents had safely returned to their base. The group said it would provide the names of the killed and injured fighters to the International Human Rights Organisation. The Jerusalem Post published a report on the fighting.
The fighting between the IRGC and Mujahideen-e-Khalq occurred near the Motahari Complex, a highly guarded government complex in Tehran that houses the headquarters of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The complex houses Khamenei’s headquarters, the Guardian Council, the Assembly of Experts, the Intelligence Minister’s office, the Judiciary Central Office, the Supreme National Security Council, and the office and residence of Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba.
The MEK claims that the majority of the dead were government supporters. However, no concrete figures are available. The organisation said that a heavy flow of ambulances was seen in the compound throughout Monday following the clashes.
While the MEK calls the attack a success, it accuses the Iranian government of failing. According to the MEK, “more than 100 mujahideen were martyred or detained in several clashes with government forces from Monday morning to noon.” These clashes began at Khamenei’s office during morning prayers.
Later on Tuesday, the group announced that it had shared the names of 16 of its members detained during the clashes with the UN Special Rapporteur and was investigating the identities of other detainees and victims.
‘Dangerous and Difficult Operation’
Al-Akhbar confirmed the clashes and described it as one of the most dangerous and difficult operations carried out by the MEK in Iran. The group claims that the operation was directly supported by foreign intelligence agencies.
Al-Akhbar’s report stated that the plan involved the MEK infiltrating the Motahari Complex, but it was foiled at the initial stage.
Iran’s state-run Tasnim agency said in its report, “The MEK has not noticed that Trump is trying to take advantage of other countries.”
The MEK was declared a terror group during the last years of the Pahlavi dynasty. Ali Khamenei’s government considers it a terror group.
