Amb. Lincoln Bloomfield Unveils Journey and Evidence Behind MEK’s Delisting from U.S. Terrorist List
Written by
Sedighe Shahrokhi
In a recent episode of the “Iran: The Untold Story” podcast, Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield Jr., former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, provided an in-depth look into his work and discoveries about the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK), Iran’s principal opposition movement. Bloomfield, who has authored several publications on the MEK, recounted his journey from skepticism to advocacy.
During his tenure as a consultant at a Washington law firm, the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs was approached by Iranian Americans from Northern California to aid in removing the MEK from the U.S. terrorist list. Although initially hesitant to accept, his curiosity was piqued when he noticed a troubling uniformity in the negative portrayal of the MEK across various think tanks. Descriptions labeled the group as a cult, Marxists, terrorists, and collaborators with Saddam Hussein, and cited their alleged involvement in the 1979 U.S. embassy hostage crisis and the Iran-Iraq war.
Bloomfield’s investigation began in earnest after a trip to Paris in 2011, marking the 30th anniversary of a pivotal protest led by MEK founder Massoud Rajavi against the clerical regime’s Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini’s regime back in 1981. This protest led to a brutal crackdown, resulting in the arrest and execution of thousands of MEK supporters. Bloomfield delved into the MEK’s history, scrutinizing documents and testimonies that contradicted the prevalent negative narratives.
Amb. Lincoln Bloomfield Jr. reveals the journey and evidence that led to the MEK's delisting from the U.S. terrorist list, uncovering #misinformation and regime propaganda. His findings challenge long-held beliefs and call for a reassessment of U.S. policy on Iran. #FreeIran2024 pic.twitter.com/svPnlZRjke
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 14, 2024
In his pursuit of the truth, Bloomfield produced an independent report that challenged ten major allegations against the MEK. His report, replete with evidence and counterarguments, was distributed widely, including to Congress and the executive branch. This report played a crucial role in pressuring then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to reassess the MEK’s terrorist designation. Ultimately, Clinton decided to remove the MEK from the list, citing a lack of substantial evidence to support the terrorist label.
Bloomfield’s revelations culminated in his 2013 book, boldly titled to highlight the MEK and challenge the existing stigma. He meticulously documented the discrepancies and evolution of terrorism reports over the years, arguing that the MEK had been grossly misrepresented.
His research uncovered a significant propaganda campaign orchestrated by the Iranian regime to discredit the MEK both domestically and internationally. Bloomfield emphasized that this misinformation campaign was driven by the regime’s fear and vulnerability, suggesting that the MEK poses a substantial threat to the regime’s stability.