Terrorist Organization Profile:
Peykar

After the downfall of the U.S.-installed Shah, many of the leftist, secularist, anarchist, and religious groups that had opposed the Shah's rule had different ideas about the future of Iran. However, with the ascent of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to power, most of these groups were politically marginalized by the new Islamic government, and, hence, their goal was transformed from opposing the Shah to opposing the Ayatollah. Peykar and the MeK both continued to face government oppression after the change in regime.

Under the Ayatollah, political prisoners detained under the Shah's reign (including the MeK leaders arrested in 1975) were released, which led to the reemergence of the MeK. Inevitably, the MeK's secular agenda conflicted with the ideals of the Ayatollah's Islamic republic, and, in 1981, the MeK leadership was forced to flee Iran and operate from exile.

Peykar was operationally active in the early 1980s and mostly conducted small-scale insurgency-style raids in Northern Iran, though the group was also responsible for one hostage situation at the Iranian consulate in Geneva in 1982. It appears that shortly after the Ayatollah's efforts to expel the MeK leadership succeeded in 1981, Peykar disappeared from the opposition scene. Unlike the MeK, Peykar was not able to maintain any significant operational capability in Iran. Presumably, members of Peykar were eventually absorbed into the MeK, considered to be the main anti-Ayatollah movement today.

Learn more about these U.S. Department of State classifications:

Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs)

Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL)