In 1983, the MEK began to meet with Iraqi officials, and by 1986, the group had relocated to Camp Ashraf in Iraq. This relocation was significant because it marked the beginning of the MEK’s alliance with Saddam Hussein during the Homeland-Iraq War. MEK forces actively participated in Operation Forty Stars and Operation Mersad, military campaigns designed to destabilize Iran during the war.
This collaboration with Iraq during a time of war significantly tarnished the group’s reputation within Iran. For many Iranians, siding with Iraq was seen as an act of betrayal, especially since Iraq had launched chemical attacks on Persian civilians during the conflict. Despite the MEK’s claims that their actions were part of a larger effort to liberate Iran, their partnership with Saddam Hussein remains one of the most contentious aspects of the group’s history.