No Secret Talks Between Iran and France Over Detention of MKO Members: Spokesman

“France has acted based on its EU and international responsibilities, for the MKO is on the terrorist list of the EU and the U.S. State Department,” Assefi announced at a regular news briefing.

French police last Tuesday launched a major

crackdown on the Iranian armed terrorist group, the People's Mujahedeen Khalq Organization (MKO), detaining more than 150 of its members in a series of dawn raids in the Paris region.

The MKO is on the terrorist list of the European Union and the U.S. State Department.

Among those arrested in the operation -- described by the French interior ministry as one of the biggest undertaken by the domestic intelligence services in the last 30 years -- was the group's

Ringleader Maryam Rajavi, according to the AFP.

Iran has been demanding the extradition of the terrorist members of the MKO whose hands are tainted with blood of innocent Iranians. The MKO planted two bombs in 1981 in the offices of the Islamic Republic Party and the Prime Minister office, killing more 70 top officials, including the Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti, president Mohammad Ali Rajai and prime minister Mohammad Javad Bahonar.

In several other bombings in the holy places or public places the group killed numerous civilians and assassinated high-ranking officials.

MS/SM

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MNA