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January 14, 2025

Trump Ukraine Envoy Hosted by MEK and Calls for Maximum Pressure

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Contact: Etan Mabourakh

[email protected]

202-386-6325 

Washington D.C. – The National Iranian American Council released the following statement regarding Donald Trump’s incoming Ukraine and Russia envoy, Keith Kellogg, joining with former Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pompeo at an event hosted by the Mujahiden-e-Khalq (MEK), a group that has engaged in human rights abuses according to Human Rights Watch, is considered a “cult-like” organization by the State Department, and was previously designated by the U.S. as a Foreign Terrorist Organization:

“The millions of Americans who are hoping Donald Trump can make good on his promises to end America’s forever wars and be a pro-peace president should be deeply concerned by his advisor’s associations with groups like the MEK.

“This is an exile organization that was considered a terrorist group by the U.S. until 2012 because of its attacks that have killed Americans and Iranians alike. Human Rights Watch has documented the human rights violations the group commits against its own members, and the State Department considers the MEK a cult-like organization. 

“What is most concerning is that this is a group that seeks to push the U.S. to do its bidding by starting a war with Iran in hopes that the MEK’s leaders can take over the country. This is a military adventure that would not serve the interests of Americans or benefit the Iranian people, it serves only to benefit the cult leaders of the MEK. Donald Trump, his advisors, and all Americans should stand firmly against such aims.

“Unfortunately, cozying up with the MEK has become all-too-normal among Washington hawks who take six figure paydays to appear with the group, overlook its abuses and bloody past, and declare support for a militarized approach to Iran. Members of the previous Trump administration who are now on the outside because of their eagerness to start wars, including John Bolton and Mike Pompeo, were staunch allies of the MEK. The incoming Trump team should ensure that key nominees and appointees are not carrying water for a formerly designated terror group that wants to drag the U.S. into war. 

“A prudent approach toward Iran won’t be one driven by groups that want to steer the U.S. and Iran toward war to serve their own narrow self-interests. In Trump’s second term, we urge him to stand up to the plans of the collective war lobbies and instead prioritize preventing war, advancing American security, and securing a deal that ensures Iran does not develop nuclear weapons and that improves the lives of ordinary people inside of Iran who are the country’s true future.”

More information available on NIAC’s X account. 

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