In a recent podcast interview, Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield, a veteran diplomat with a rich background in defense and foreign policy, addressed longstanding allegations against the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

Bloomfield, who has held notable positions including US Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs, provided a nuanced perspective on misconceptions surrounding the MEK’s role in the Iran hostage crisis and accusations of terrorism.

During the discussion, Bloomfield clarified that the term “Mujahedin” was used by various groups, causing confusion among analysts and intelligence officials. He detailed the events of the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, emphasizing that the students who seized the American embassy were closely aligned with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s regime, not the MEK.

Bloomfield highlighted the involvement of Masoumeh Ebtekar, a student leader and translator for the captors, who later derided the MEK in her writings. “Once the embassy was taken over, it became clear that Khomeini’s followers were the driving force. There was a young woman, Masoumeh Ebtekar, who became the translator for the captors. She later mocked the MEK, stating that Massoud Rajavi and his people tried to take credit for the takeover but were excluded by Khomeini’s supporters,” Bloomfield recounted.

He underscored the MEK’s exclusion from the hostage crisis by Khomeini’s faction and their political affiliations, noting their admiration for nationalist figures like Mohammad Mossadegh and Mehdi Bazargan, both of whom espoused a pro-democracy vision for Iran. “Their hero politically was Mossadegh, and also Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan, who shared a nationalist, pro-democracy stance akin to that of the MEK,” Bloomfield stated.

Addressing accusations of the MEK’s involvement in the killing of American citizens, Bloomfield asserted that these claims have been debunked by multiple Western intelligence and law enforcement agencies. He mentioned that American intelligence officials had interrogated MEK members without finding any evidence linking them to terrorism. Similarly, a comprehensive French investigation concluded in 2011 that the MEK had never targeted civilians.

“The myth that they were behind the embassy takeover or the killings of Americans has been thoroughly debunked. American intelligence and law enforcement have interrogated every MEK member in Iraq and found no such evidence. Additionally, an eight-year French investigation concluded that the MEK never targeted civilians,” Bloomfield emphasized.

Bloomfield also highlighted that the designation of the MEK as a terrorist organization in 1997 was not based on solid intelligence. He noted that key figures in American counterterrorism, including FBI and CIA directors, were not consulted during the designation process and found no supporting evidence during the MEK’s time on the terrorist list.

He mentioned that American intelligence officials had interrogated MEK members without finding any evidence linking them to terrorism.

“The FBI was not consulted. You can ask the FBI director at the time, who will confirm this. Also, talk to the former Secretary of Homeland Security or former counter-terrorism coordinator, CIA directors, all of whom will tell you they never saw any intelligence suggesting the MEK was involved in terrorism,” Bloomfield said.

He concluded by emphasizing the hardships faced by MEK members under the Iranian regime, including imprisonment, torture, and execution. Despite these challenges, the MEK continued advocating for a free Iran, garnering support from the Iranian diaspora and international human rights organizations. Bloomfield’s detailed account sheds light on the complexities of the allegations against the MEK and their impact on efforts to promote change in Iran.

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu