Masoud Keshmiri (Persian: مسعود کشمیری) was an Iranian militant who was the member of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) who infiltrated the Islamic Republican Party (IRP) and came up through the ranks, reaching the position of secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, before planting an incendiary bomb in his briefcase that blew up the Prime Minister's office in 1981.[1][2] Victims of the explosion were President Mohammad-Ali Rajai and Prime Minister Mohammad-Javad Bahonar among others.

Masoud Keshmiri
Killing Mohammad-Ali Rajai and Mohammad-Javad Bahonar in 1981 by Masoud Keshmiri
Born
DiedJune 11, 2023?
NationalityIranian
Political partyPeople's Mujahedin of Iran
Islamic Republican Party
(1979–1981)
Wanted by
Iran
Wanted since1981

At first, it was thought that Keshmiri himself died in the explosion,[3] however it was later revealed that he slipped through the dragnet.[4]

Iranian state media claimed that Keshmiri was killed in a June 11, 2023, attack on a MEK site in a Paris suburb.[5] However, some in Iran, have doubted this individuals existence, due to the media blackout surrounding him.


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References

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  1. ^ "Iran: Secret agent was bomber". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. 14 September 1981. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  2. ^ Hiro, Dilip (2013). Iran Under the Ayatollahs (Routledge Revivals). Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-04381-0.
  3. ^ James Dorsey (15 September 1981), "Iran's rebels getting bolder day by day", The Christian Science Monitor, retrieved 1 June 2018
  4. ^ Michael Newton (2014). "Bahonar, Mohammad-Javad (1933–1981)". Famous Assassinations in World History: An Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. ABC-CLIO. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-61069-286-1. Although the Bahonar-Rajai assassination was solved with identification of bomber Massoud Kashmiri as an MEK agent he remained unpunished. Various mujahedin were arrested and executedin reprisal, but Kashmiri apparently slipped through the dragnet.
  5. ^ "Deep Dive: After 'attacks' and raid in Europe, can Iran get exiled dissidents extradited?". amwaj.media. Retrieved 9 September 2023.