The Iranian regime’s long-standing fear of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) is deeply embedded in the country’s political history. For over four decades, the MEK has remained the regime’s most persistent and existential opposition, committed to overthrowing the theocratic establishment and replacing it with a democratic alternative.
Successive Iranian regime administrations have viewed the MEK not only as a political rival but as a formidable internal threat. This perception has led to widespread repression, mass arrests, purges, and the expansion of intelligence and security operations aimed at preventing MEK influence from gaining a foothold inside Iran.
.@Mili10601770: Blessed is this Resistance, which, through sacrifice, rebellious units & the Army of Freedom, has pushed the clerical regime to the brink. With @Maryam_Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, #Iran’s freedom & prosperity are assured.#NCRIAlternativehttps://t.co/SDu1ULmm20
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) February 8, 2025
Even senior regime officials have openly acknowledged the disruptive presence of the MEK. Mostafa Pourmohammadi, the regime’s former Minister of Interior, admitted that the regime has never experienced a moment of stability in the past 45 years due to the activities of opposition groups—most notably, the MEK.
Defamation and Fear: A Dual Strategy
In addition to physical repression, the regime has invested significant resources in a sustained campaign to delegitimize and defame the MEK. While attempting to paint the organization as violent or foreign-backed, Tehran simultaneously fears the MEK’s deepening influence among Iranians, particularly youth and disenfranchised social groups.
Despite the regime’s efforts to isolate the organization, the MEK has steadily gained legitimacy abroad. Numerous Western lawmakers and former government officials now recognize it as the principal opposition force to the current regime. The organization’s international profile continues to rise, bolstered by its annual gatherings and support from politicians and lawmakers from around the world.
Renewed Threats and State Media Alarm
The regime’s paranoia has once again surfaced publicly. On May 29, 2025, the state-affiliated Javan Online, a media outlet linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), published an article voicing alarm over the MEK’s potential role in sparking a new wave of nationwide unrest.
The article accused the MEK of inciting riots and violence within Iran and supporting ongoing protests. Specifically, it alleged that the MEK had attempted to “transform the protests of some truck drivers into a broader anti-regime movement” as part of a multi-stage conspiracy.
Mike Pompeo: "The MEK has been the target of terror abroad and the subject of massive demonization campaigns by the regime.
"But now, I think we all know the truth. You all are freedom fighters of the highest order."#NCRIAlternative #FreeIran2025 pic.twitter.com/RtXE0zX1Wn— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 9, 2025
“In recent years, one of the actions of the Mojahedin inside the country was creating riots and internal violence and providing material and moral support to the continuation of unrest and tensions,” the article stated. “This hated group is trying to heal the wounds it has inflicted.”
The regime-linked outlet also claimed that the MEK works hand-in-hand with the United States, warning that any deadlock in nuclear negotiations or diplomatic talks could further exacerbate public dissatisfaction, which opposition groups might then exploit.
The MEK’s Influence in Europe and the U.S.
The article further expressed concern over the MEK’s growing support in Western political circles. It highlighted the group’s role in forming the Friends of a Free Iran caucus in the European Parliament and its ongoing engagement with both Republican and Democratic U.S. senators.
The publication pointed to the attendance of American officials—including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former National Security Advisor John Bolton—at MEK events as evidence of a coordinated anti-regime strategy. Even representatives of the current U.S. administration, such as Keith Kellogg, were named as recent participants in MEK-sponsored conferences.
Gen. Jones: "There exists a structure and organized alternative, the NCRI and its principal component, the MEK. We must reject this false narrative and recognize that the NCRI is the legitimate voice of the Iranian people."#FreeIran2025 #NCRIAlternative https://t.co/G17xs9ujE5
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 11, 2025
“These actions demonstrate the continuation of America’s hostile policy,” Javan Online claimed. “And they signal the MEK’s central role in this ongoing confrontation with the Iranian regime.”
The Iranian regime’s fear of the MEK is not merely rhetorical—it is a central element of its domestic and foreign policy calculations. The MEK’s sustained resistance, coupled with its growing international backing, has placed it in a unique position: a domestic opposition force with global resonance.
As Tehran continues to crack down on dissent and warn against foreign interference, its persistent targeting of the MEK serves as a clear indicator of the group’s enduring political and symbolic power.