mko

MKO, short for Mujahideen-e Khalq Organization (also known as MEK), is an Iranian political‑militant group with a long history of opposition to both the Pahlavi monarchy and the Islamic Republic. It was established in 1965 by a group of Iranian students and intellectuals, with Massoud Rajavi emerging as its most prominent leader in the 1980s. The organization combined leftist and Islamist ideas and advocated for overthrowing the Iranian regime, at times employing guerrilla tactics and terrorist acts.

After the 1979 revolution, the MKO opposed both the new theocratic government and the older regime, participating in armed confrontation with the state. During the 1980s it received support from Saddam Hussein’s regime and established bases in Iraq, operating openly against Iran from camps there. Following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the group faced intense pressure and many members were relocated from Iraq to other locations, with a significant shift occurring in the 2010s toward relocation to Albania, where a large faction settled under international arrangements.

The MKO operates publicly through the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which it positions as the political umbrella for an envisioned transitional government in Iran. Maryam Rajavi has served as the NCRI’s leading public figure since the 1990s, presenting a platform that emphasizes democratic reform, secularism, and human rights.

Controversy surrounding the MKO has included allegations of violent activity, coercive recruitment, and internal control practices. It has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and several European governments for extended periods, though certain jurisdictions have revised or rescinded those designations. Today, the MKO maintains a diaspora presence and continues to advocate for its vision of Iran’s political future through the NCRI and allied supporters.