Some media (Western and Arab) have for sometime been talking of covert US plans against Iran to use anti-Iran groups in order to "disrupt the order and security in the country".

Reports from official sources inside Iran (particularly about bombing a mosque in Shiraz) also indicate that the US has really planned and committed this plot.

In these reports, the name of terrorist MEK appears among other terrorist groups including Pezhak, Jondollah and some separatist movements.

Al-Vatan al-Arabi wrote:

"Influential people and US authorities in the US have recently initiated contacts with opposition and anti-Iran groups, who have relatives inside Iran."

Some western media have also reported of an order by Bush for covert operations throughout the region*, part of which includes the organization of anti-Iran groups and even assassination of Iranian officials. MEK is clearly part of the story.

Spreading such reports could be aimed at whitewashing the past of Americans of doing such activities against Iran and that the US has started a new phase against Iran; however, even if committed, this could be a pressure tool and a psychological war, since US intelligence services have for years been involved in soft and hard organization of Iranian opposition. They have tested this leverage and there's no need for them to plan as if they have achieved an extraordinary weapon, unless they want to mobilize all they have against Iran- instead of getting involved in a war.

Where does the terrorist MEK in this scene?

MEK is primarily promoting the idea that they would be used as the key element in US's war against Iran; they pretend their own gestures, behind the warmongering claims of some American officials, as a message to Iran and other political groups that "they shouldn’t be underestimated"!

In this regards, as warmongers and Pentagonists have stressed, MEK could be used only for spying and intelligence services and that what happened in Iraq will not be repeated; perhaps, they follow the example of Afghanistan where the North Alliance was used as a mercenary armed group and then disappeared because it was not willing to ally and unite with other groups.

Another part of the story, which lies in recent reports and is related to the US's use of groups to create anarchy, is more amazing.

Bombing in Shiraz and the role of a Monarchist group in that was an unexpected move, which could be considered a "shock" for the MEK. First, it reflects the view of American organizers of this terrorist act: they believe that the MEK is not able to conduct terrorist operations inside Iran and that it lacks enough support inside the country. Second, the trust and support the MEK is eagerly seeking among Americans is easily devoted to a movement that lacks Rajavi's claims and its only similarity to the MEK is sectarian nature.

It seems that after 5 years of scanning and interrogating MEK members, Pentagon and CIA officials have learned not to be duped by MEK's hollow claims; therefore, in recent operation, they directed all attentions to the MEK and meanwhile, conducted the operation by another anti-Iranian group.

It should be noted that, with regard to MEK's anti-Iranian activities in Iraq and identification of Shiites and people who have been formerly in Iran, and considering the fact that the covert plot covers also Iraq and Afghanistan, it's possible for them to be assigned with assassination of Iranians and Shiites; this is undoubtedly in the framework of the abilities of terrorist MEK in Iraq.

Therefore, along with terrorist activities inside Iran, the assassination of Iranian diplomats in Baghdad could be an option and terrorist MEK should be held responsible.

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* Source: Counterpunch, Andrew Cockburn