Iran (IMNA) - August 29 is observed as the National Day of Fight against Terrorism in Iran. On this date in 1981, the Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO, MEK, PMOI) detonated explosives at the office of the Prime Minister, leading to the deaths of President Rajai, Prime Minister Bahonar, and several other officials.
In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the week preceding the anniversary is commemorated as 'Government Week' to honor the memory of the nation's esteemed political leaders.
On August 30, 1981, a devastating explosion occurred when an individual unknowingly opened a briefcase filled with explosives delivered by Masoud Keshmiri, an agent of the MKO terror group.
The attack took place during an extraordinary meeting at the Iranian Prime Minister's office, attended by President Rajai, Prime Minister Bahonar, and various military and security personnel.
The infiltrator, posing as a security officer, served tea to the attendees and discreetly placed a bomb-laden briefcase under the table. Investigations later revealed that the briefcase contained over one kilogram of TNT, resembling a previous bombing incident two months earlier. Subsequent security measures could not be implemented due to the delayed discovery of both attacks.
Upon leaving the meeting under the guise of an urgent matter, the perpetrator rendezvoused with accomplices at Pasteur Square to facilitate his escape from the scene after the bomb detonated upon the briefcase being opened, causing significant destruction to the building.
Notable victims of the attack were President Mohammad Ali Rajai and Prime Minister Mohammad-Javad Bahonar, revered figures in Iranian politics. Rajai, a former teacher and government official, had previously served as both Minister of Education and Prime Minister before assuming the presidency.
Bahonar, an influential Islamic theologian, held key positions within the Islamic Republican Party and contributed significantly to the drafting of Iran's constitution.
Both Rajai and Bahonar, along with other victims, were laid to rest in the Hafte Tir Mausoleum at the Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery in Tehran.
In a related development, the Iranian court convened its 15th trial session in the ongoing case against members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO), a terrorist group responsible for numerous attacks on civilians and government officials in Iran since the revolution.
The trial, involving 104 individuals and one legal entity tried in absentia, underscores the country's commitment to combating terrorism and seeking justice for victims of such heinous acts, including those perpetrated by the MKO which claimed thousands of Iranian lives over the decades.
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