Iran accuses exiled opposition group of Paris rally bomb plot

Iran has accused an opposition group of attempting to bomb one of its own rallies in Paris, after authorities in Europe pointed the finger at Tehran.

Iran regime figures and media have claimed that two suspects arrested by authorities in Belgium in connection to the plot actually belong to the group.

An operation following the plot saw six people - including a a Vienna-based diplomat - arrested over the alleged plot to bomb a rally of the exiled People's Mujahedeen of Iran (MEK) in a Paris suburb.

Iran has been accused of being behind the plot to target its arch-foe, and instead blamed the People's Mujahedeen itself of being behind the "scenario".

"Based on the information available, the individuals arrested in Belgium are among the... notorious and operational elements" of the MEK, the ministry said on its website.

"Relevant Iranian authorities are prepared to offer the necessary cooperation by presenting the required documents and evidence to shed light on the real dimensions of this pre-planned scenario orchestrated by the terrorist group."

A Belgian couple of Iranian origin were arrested in Belgium on suspicion of planning the attack.

The People's Mujahedeen was founded in 1965 and has been banned in Iran since 1981. The group is reviled by Iran and members of the MEK took part in operations alongside Saddam Hussein during the bloody Iran-Iran War.

The MEK has carried out a string of attacks on Iran regime figures.

Saturday's rally was attended by thousands of people and attracted several US politicians, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is now the personal lawyer of President Donald Trump.

Other figures in Trump's administration have links with the MEK. 

The bomb plot overshadowed Iran's President Hassan Rouhani tour of Europe, as he seeks guarantees from European powers over a landmark 2015 nuclear agreement, after the US unilaterally pulled out of the deal in May.     

Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif, who is with Rouhani in Europe, said on Monday the foiled Villepinte attack was a "false flag ploy" to harm Iran.

Iran's official IRNA news agency said the foreign ministry had summoned French Ambassador Francois Senemaud to hear officials "strongly protesting against the activities of the terrorist and hypocritical MEK group in France".

"Extremist terrorist groups should not be allowed to take refuge (in a country) under the pretext of freedom of expression and thus promote their ideology," it said, citing the ministry.

The ultra-conservative Kayhan newspaper criticised the ministry's handling of the case and called for the expulsion of the French ambassador, who is due to step down days after being appointed as President Emmanuel Macron's personal representative for Syria.