Referring to the MKO's killing innocent civilians in, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute wrote the ordinary people's hatred towards MKO is the group's Achilles’ heel.
"MKO sponsored a terror campaign targeting regime officials—killing many innocent bystanders in the process—and they accepted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s protection, a move ordinary Iranians considered treasonous," wrote Michael Rubin in a piece published on the National Interest.
"Inside the Islamic Republic, Iranians remain curious about opposition groups," he added. "They watch diaspora television channels, following the opposition on Telegram channels, and ask about high-profile figures like Reza Pahlavi, the son of the ousted shah. About the MKO, however, they voice only opprobrium."
"The hatred ordinary rank-and-file Iranians feel for the MKO is the group’s Achilles’ heel."