Prominent U.S. Supporters of the MEK

Origins and Ideology of the MEK

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the MEK was founded in the 1960s by radical Iranian students who sought to overthrow the U.S.-backed regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The group combined elements of Marxism and Islam, opposing both the Western influence under the monarchy and, later, the clerical rule established by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini following the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Historical Designation and Delisting

For years, the group’s status was a subject of intense debate among Western policymakers. According to the U.S. Department of State, the United States designated the MEK as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997, citing past attacks attributed to the group, including the killing of U.S. military personnel and civilians in Iran during the 1970s. However, following extensive lobbying efforts by prominent American and European political figures and a legal challenge, the U.S. government officially revoked the terror designation in September 2012.

High-Profile American Supporters

In the years following its removal from the U.S. terror blacklist, the MEK cultivated relationships with numerous high-ranking American officials. According to public records and reporting by outlets such as Reuters, prominent figures who have spoken at MEK-affiliated events and advocated for the group include former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton. These supporters have frequently praised the group’s advocacy for regime change in Tehran, while critics and human rights researchers continue to raise concerns about the organization’s internal structure and past activities.