Iran on Sunday executed two members of the exiled opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK) after convicting them of targeting civilian and government infrastructure. The two men—Behrouz Ehsani Eslamlou and Mehdi Hasani—were hanged after being found guilty of launching attacks using improvised mortar launchers, according to the judiciary’s official news outlet, Mizan Online.Iranian courts charged the men with several offenses, including waging war against the state, conspiracy, sabotage, and membership in a terrorist organisation. Prosecutors said they were plotting to destabilise national security and cause widespread damage to public infrastructure.State media, cited by AFP, reported that the two men were also involved in acts of vandalism against public property, gathering intelligence, filming their operations, and distributing footage through media outlets linked to the group.Eslamlou was said to have longstanding ties to the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, dating back to the 1980s. He was previously imprisoned and rejoined the group following his release. Authorities arrested him while he was attempting to cross the border into Turkiye. At the time, he was reportedly in possession of firearms, ammunition, mortar-assembling materials, and tools for altering his appearance.According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Eslamlou had been tasked by MEK leaders based in Albania to return to Iran and organise underground terror cells. His mission allegedly involved training operatives and directing attacks on both government and civilian targets.The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, originally a Marxist-Islamist group that opposed Iran’s monarchy, supported the 1979 Islamic Revolution but later broke with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s government. The group carried out a series of bombings and assassinations in the 1980s and aligned with Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war—stances that continue to provoke deep resentment in Iran.Now primarily based in Albania, MEK claims to maintain an underground network inside Iran. Prior to Sunday, the last known execution of MEK members took place in 2009, following their conviction over an attempted bombing in Tehran’s Enghelab Square.
