Iran arrests three suspected members of exiled opposition group

Tuesday 05 August 2025 - 09:00

Iranian authorities have arrested three individuals suspected of links to the exiled opposition group, the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK), accusing them of attempting to disrupt public order, according to the local news agency ISNA on Tuesday.

The arrests occurred in Pakdasht, southeast of Tehran, and were carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s ideological military force. Local prosecutor Mohammad Hassanpour stated that the trio had been identified as members of "sabotage cells" linked to the MEK. They allegedly aimed to undermine national security and stability through clandestine propaganda and unrest.

"The suspects are currently under interrogation, and investigations are ongoing," Hassanpour said, without providing further details on their identities or charges.

These arrests follow the recent execution of two long-standing MEK members, accused of launching attacks using improvised weapons targeting civilians and public institutions.

Founded in the 1960s with the goal of overthrowing the Shah, the MEK has been labeled a terrorist organization by the Iranian regime, particularly for its support of Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war. Now operating from exile, the group advocates for regime change in Iran.

In recent weeks, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused the MEK of trying to exploit regional tensions, including the conflict sparked by Israel’s June 13 attack, to incite unrest and challenge the Islamic Republic’s authority.