The Mujahedeen-e Khalq terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the killing of more than 500 members of Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Sardasht, West Azerbaijan Province, in 1983.
According to Habilian Association database (Specialized Center of Research on the MKO's Crimes), the MKO terrorist group has made the confession in a news published in No. 158 of the Journal of Mujahid, the group’s main press organ during early years of the 80s.
According to the confession, on June 20, 1983, 17 IRIG’s armoured personnel carriers who had been crossing the communication axes of Sardasht, was blasted by anti-vehicle mines planted by the MKO and most of their passengers were killed. The news stated that in continuation of the operation, MKO’s terrorists along with KDP’s Pishmargas destroy ten other IRGC’s vehicles with ARP missiles. Based on the news, as a result of that attack, “more than 500” members of Iranian Revolutionary Guards were killed and “a significant number” wounded.
From the beginning of its establishment in first days of the revolution, Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution has been responsible for establishing security and fighting with subversive and terrorist groups in the western provinces of Iran. Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) was one of those groups that in coalition with local terrorist groups and using mercenary units known as Peshmerga, was attempting to sabotage and terrorist operations during the early years of the 80s.