MEK Endorses Mousavi in Rare Statement Attributed to Rajavi

WANA (Jul 22) – In an unexpected turn of events that triggered significant reactions across Iran’s political landscape, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (commonly known in Iran as the “Monafeqin” or hypocrites) has issued an official statement of support for Mir-Hossein Mousavi. The statement, released in the name of Massoud Rajavi, the elusive leader of the group, marks the first media appearance attributed to him in years—raising new questions within Iran’s political and security spheres, including the possibility of past or present ties between Mousavi and the group, which the Islamic Republic designates as a terrorist organization.

In the statement, Mousavi’s recent positions criticizing Iran’s political structure were praised, describing him as “the voice of the people” and aligning his rhetoric with the organization’s goals.

Rajavi is quoted as saying, “Attacking or undermining Mousavi at this critical juncture only benefits Khamenei.” The statement also lauded Mousavi’s call for a referendum to draft a new constitution, likening it to Article 1 of the founding charter of the MEK’s National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

Mir hossein Moosavi and Zahra Rahnavard

This endorsement is particularly striking given that Massoud Rajavi has not been seen in public for over two decades, ever since Iranian military operations targeted MEK bases in Iraq. His fate remains uncertain, with some sources suggesting he may have been killed during those attacks. Many analysts believe the statements attributed to him are tools for maintaining internal cohesion within the organization.

Mousavi’s own statement, issued following the 12-day war between Iran and Israel and the direct U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, criticized what he termed “warmongering and the dead-end of official foreign policy,” and called for a national referendum to draft a new constitution—a position that openly challenges the foundational framework of the Islamic Republic.

The MEK’s endorsement of a figure deeply rooted within the establishment has sent mixed signals to many observers. Inside Iran, the move sparked debate over the motivations behind such support and the possibility of links between Mousavi and the MEK—though no concrete evidence of direct contact has ever been made public.

This file photo shows Maryam Rajavi, the ringleader of the terrorist Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) (C), former US President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani (R) and former US senator Joseph Lieberman / Social media / WANA News Agency

Mir-Hossein Mousavi is a veteran figure in the Islamic Republic. He served as Iran’s Prime Minister during the 1980s, including the war with Iraq. After nearly two decades away from politics, he re-emerged in the 2009 presidential election as the reformist candidate opposing incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The announcement of Ahmadinejad’s landslide victory led to an unprecedented wave of nationwide protests. Spearheaded by Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, and Zahra Rahnavard, the Green Movement began as a call for vote recounts but quickly evolved into a broader social uprising under the slogan “Where is my vote?”—eventually challenging the very foundations of the Islamic Republic.

The Green Movement became the largest wave of public dissent in Iran since the 1979 revolution. Mass protests across Tehran and other cities, followed by mass arrests and security crackdowns, plunged the country into one of its most intense political crises. As a result, Mousavi, Karroubi, and Rahnavard were placed under house arrest in 2011, accused of fomenting unrest. Mousavi has remained under house arrest ever since, with no direct access to political or media platforms. His continued detention remains a flashpoint between reformist and conservative factions within the Iranian system.

the Green Movement began as a call for vote recounts but quickly evolved into a broader social uprising under the slogan “Where is my vote?” / WANA News Agency

The MEK’s endorsement—despite the absence of any verified connection between the two—has fueled speculation within Iranian political circles. Many analysts argue that the move is less about genuine alignment and more about a propaganda effort by the MEK to exploit internal fractures within Iran’s ruling establishment.

The MEK, labeled a terrorist organization by the Islamic Republic and widely known in official Iranian discourse as the “Monafeqin,” took up arms against the newly founded Islamic regime in the 1980s. During the Iran-Iraq War, the group collaborated with Saddam Hussein’s Ba’athist regime and participated in military operations such as “Eternal Light” against Iranian territory. The MEK was listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, and several other countries—though many of these designations have been lifted in recent years. Nonetheless, the Iranian public still associates the group with a legacy of violence, assassinations, and collaboration with foreign enemies.

In this context, the MEK’s open support for a figure like Mousavi has not only caught many off guard but is also seen as politically charged. At a time when regional tensions, domestic unrest, and international pressure are converging, Iran’s political stage has become increasingly volatile—inviting new alignments and recalculations by all players involved.