ranian officials quickly identified Massoud Keshmiri, a member of the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK), as the mastermind behind the attack. Keshmiri, who had infiltrated the government by posing as a trusted aide, planted a bomb in a briefcase that was brought into the conference room where Rajai and Bahonar were meeting. The explosion set the room ablaze, killing Rajai, Bahonar, and several others.
While the MEK was widely blamed for the assassination, some have speculated that the attack may have been the result of internal power struggles within the Islamic Republican Party. However, these claims remain unsubstantiated, and Keshmiri’s involvement is generally accepted as the most likely explanation.