Editorial

March 2005, issue 10

The dominant theme for the big powers, USA, Europe and Russia for the past few weeks has been 'what to do with Iran'. Among the proposals and arguments over Iran's nuclear power program have been suggestions that the USA support Iranian opposition groups to bring about regime change. As well as monarchists, republicans and student, the Mojahedin has also been touted as a means to this end.

Never shy about coming forward, the Mojahedin jumped firmly onto this bandwagon last month as a possible means to secure its own future. Apparently abandoning overnight its thirty year history of armed struggle, the Mojahedin proposed a Third Way.

"If foreign obstacles are removed" said Maryam Rajavi, "the Iranian people and their organized resistance have the capability to bring about change. This is the only way to prevent foreign invasion."

What are the 'foreign obstacles' and what is meant by the Iranian people's 'organized resistance'? It is clear that violence has not been ruled out, only 'foreign invasion' – which sits in stark contrast to the stance every other Iranian opposition which, while supporting regime change renounces violence as a solution.

Mrs Rajavi's message become a little more clear when we learn that "the People's Mojahedin is the pivotal force within the Resistance". Now, isn't there a world of difference between resistance by the Iranian people and 'the Resistance' - which of course is Massoud Rajavi's catch-all to describe the people and the organisational groupings under his hegemony. But when it is further announced that "the terrorist tag on the People’s Mojahedin is politically and morally unwarranted", the game plan becomes totally transparent.

In her Third Way, Maryam Rajavi is not talking about Iran or Iranians or what could or should be done to affect regime change or curtail Iran's nuclear ambitions. She is making a plea for the Mojahedin to be removed from international terrorist lists in exchange for being used as a mercenary force against Iran.

Two hiccups loom large in this plan, the first was beautifully described by Gary Sick in a recent interview: "Everybody I've ever talked to in Iran or who have gone to Iran tell me without exception that these people are despised." So much for the people's 'organized resistance'.

The other obstacle – which is starkly obvious – is that in twenty-five years, even with the full military and financial backing of Saddam Hussein and at a time when the Iranian people were under even greater pressure than now, the Mojahedin singularly failed to effect regime change in Iran when that was its single aim.

Our lead article this month looks at this Third Way from various perspectives. Maryam Khoshnevis' article The Third Phase – Mercenaries explores another 'third' for the MKO, as she describes the evolution of the MKO's current position. And also, the third and final part of the MKO dissidents' interview with international media is published.

In the third month of 2005, that is enough threes!