The opposition group's claims, if true, would suggest that Iran's pursuit of biological weapons is more aggressive than previously believed. The Mujaheddin Khalq, also known as the People's Mujaheddin, is listed by the State Department as a terrorist group, though weapons experts and intelligence officials say many of the group's past claims about Iranian weapons programmes have been largely reliable. The group first exposed a massive nuclear facility built near the town of Natanz to make enriched uranium, which can be used for commercial nuclear power plants or to make nuclear weapons.
The Mujaheddin has been fighting for survival after some of its Iraq-based military camps came under attack by U.S. forces during the war. Although the Mujaheddin claimed neutrality in the U.S.-led campaign against Iraq, the Bush administration decided to bomb Mujaheddin bases in an apparent attempt to thaw relations with Iran. Later, U.S. Central Command arran-ged a ceasefire that allowed the group to keep many of its weap-ons and maintain its camps. But then the Bush administration decided to actively seek its surrender.