Sen. John McCain meets with Iranian dissidents relocated to Albania
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he presidential elections in Iran , scheduled for May 19, have observers wondering whether the "white turban" incumbent, Hassan Rouhani, will retain his position, or be defeated by his likely contender, the "black turban" mullah, Ebrahim Raisi, known for his key role in the 1988 massacre of more than 30,000 political prisoners.
Senator McCain Praises Iran’s Largest Oppositional Group In a critical move, Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has recently met with Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Tirana, Albania. They discussed Iran’s politics, the Islamic Republic’s role in the region, and the future prospects.
A Network of 26 Agencies Charged with Clamping Down on Women in Iran Created: 19 September 2016 Download English Version Italiano Also Visit INTRODUCTION The misogynist regime ruling Iran preserves its grips on power by relying on two pillars of domestic repression and export of terrorism and fundamentalism abroad. Since the beginning of its rule, suppression of women under the pretext of mal-veiling has always been a great part of domestic repression. However, thanks to the Iranian women's defiance of such forcible impositions and standing for their right to choose their own clothing, the issue of "veiling and virtue" has turned into a political and security problem for the regime.
Fatemeh (Razieh) Ayatollahzadeh Shirazi Symbol of Valor Date of Birth: 1952 Place of Birth: Tehran Education: B.S. in Physics Date of Martyrdom: November 1, 1988 Method of Martyrdom: Hanging by crane in front of other prisoners Razieh was born in a religious family. Her father was a clergyman, but she rebelled against all the traditions confined women to their homes. She threw off the fetters of women's disbelief.
NCRI Women's Committee Monthly Report - March 2017 Introduction The month of March marked the International Women's Day. The Women's Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran held a number of meetings in various cities in Europe, U.S., Canada and Australia in coordination and cooperation with Iranian women's associations to honor the International Women's Day.
Iran: Atena Daemi starts a hunger strike Atena Daemi, a human rights activist and advocate of children's rights, went on a hunger strike to protest the prison sentences issued her sisters Ensieh and Haniyeh. Earlier, on April 3, she had made a protest but there was no response to her demands, so she went on hunger strike. Ms. Daemi is presently detained in the Women's Ward of Evin Prison.
Syria: Iran IRGC present in Assad’s Shayrat airfield Following the U.S. missile attack in Syria targeting the assets of Levant dictator Bashar Assad, Arab and Syrian opposition media outlets have published details depicting the presence of Iran’s elements in Assad’s bases , including the Shayrat airfield. Basel Ezzatedin, Director of the Qasioun News Agency office in the city of Homs, in an interview with Iranian opposition INTV satellite television described how the Shayrat airfield has been used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards ( IRGC ).
British House of Commons Debate: Iran Regime Is the Number One State Sponsor of Terrorism in the World NCRI - At a debate in the House of Commons regarding Iran’s influence in the Middle East on March 22, Dr Matthew Offord MP said that the country is the number one state sponsor of terrorism in the world. He highlighted that the Islamic Republic controls, backs, funds and trains Islamist terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas with the aim of destroying Israel. However, pointing out the stark difference between the rulers and the people of the country, he said: “I place on record that the people of Iran are a fine collective, with a remarkable history in the region. However, the modern-day Iran, ruled by the mullahs, is a theocratic regime, based on the principle of rule of law by Islamic jurists.”
Arab Summit: Iran's Meddling Strongly Criticized s the Arab Summit alliance raising stakes for Iran? It appears the recent Arab League Summit in Jordan should be considered an important development in the path of further isolating Iran in the Middle East. At a first glance, this was a conference in which the highest number of state leaders participated in comparison to previous such gatherings. Al-Arabiya covered in an article by Heshmat Alavi, On April 3, 2017. A more in-depth perspective places us before this important conclusion that most speakers strongly criticized Iran’s meddling and highlighted the necessity of solidarity and alliance amongst Arab states to confront this phenomenon. Leaders of Saudi Arabia and Jordan specifically expressed their grave concerns over Iran’s interference across the region, especially Syria, sectarian warmongering and Tehran’s state sponsorship of terrorism.
Iran: Mullahs Terrified of Internet, social Media NCRI - Mullah Ahmad Khatami, a known figure of the faction loyal to Regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, described the Iranian people’s active use of the Internet and social media as a “cultural war.” This “cultural war” is more difficult than a “military war,” he warned. Khamenei, since 1991, referred to this threat using various terms, such as cultural assault, cultural NATO and cultural raid. “Today we must sense the threat,” Khatami continued.
Iran Regime's Lies Citing Tunisian President and Algerian Prime Minister, Ridicules of Instability and Growing Isolation NCRI - Tunisian Presidential Spokesman Reza Buqazi denied the remarks attributed by Iran regime to Tunisian President al-Baji Qaed al-Sabasi in his meeting with Tehran’s Minister of Culture and Guidance. Iran’s state-run media quoted al-Sabasi saying, “Iran is a supporter of the Islamic World against the Zionist regime,” adding he hoped all Arab and Islamic countries would stand shoulder to shoulder with Iran in this face-off. The Tunisian Presidential Spokesman said the President, during his March 31st meeting with Iran’s Minister of Culture and Guidance, discussed the need for Iran’s positive cooperation, the necessity for Iran to improve its behavior in the region, and practice measures of dialogue and cooperation to peacefully resolve the wars in Syria and Yemen in order to establish stability in the region. (Tunisian state news agency – Apr...
Iran Regime Not OK With Islamic NATO ISLAMABAD: Iran today said it has reservations on the appointment of Pakistan's former army chief Gen Raheel Sharif as the head of the Saudi-led 39-nation Islamic military alliance, warning that it may "impact" the unity among Muslim countries. ‘The Economic Times’ reported on April 3, 2017. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency quoted the country's Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost as saying that Tehran had conveyed its concerns to Islamabad. "We are concerned about this issue... that it may impact the unity of Islamic countries," Honardoost said.
IRAN'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: A BREAKING CRISIS? By Shahriar Kia The 12th presidential election in Iran will be held on May 19th. These polls are taking place at a time when the regime in Tehran, and especially Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, are facing three distinct crises. a) Khamenei, suffering from prostate cancer, sees his days as numbered and must designate a successor. From March 2015 he has held various sessions with senior regime and Revolutionary Guards ( IRGC ) officials for this very purpose. Khamenei insists that his successor be clarified prior to his death. b) A major policy overhaul in Washington following the end of Obama’s tenure. This has terrified Iran and placed this regime in intense isolation on the international stage and across the region in the face of Arab and Islamic countries. c) The presidential election crisis in May.
IRANIAN WOMEN PLAYERS SNOOKERED FOR 'UN-ISLAMIC' ACTS FP - March 31, 2017 - Iran has banned some of its women players from billiard sports competitions for a year for violating the Islamic codes of conduct at a tournament in China, sporting authorities announced. The Disciplinary Committee of Bowling, Billiard and Boxing Federation did not reveal the nature of the alleged offences, saying it would name the transgressors later. "Women sent to China Open (billiard) competitions will be banned from all domestic and foreign competitions for one year for violating the Islamic code," it said late Thursday, according to the ISNA and Tasnim news agencies.
RISING IRAN-US TENSIONS: GOVT ASKS INDIAN FIRMS TO GO SLOW ON CHABAHAR PROJECTS The MEA has told the Department of Fertilisers that it “must wait for some time before taking any further decision”. It said that it would subsequently clarify India’s stand on Iran, including the possibility of funding the project. With the sanctions squabble escalating between Iran and the US, New Delhi is instructing Indian firms to go slow on the proposed projects in Chabahar Free Trade Zone lest their financial transactions and technology imports from the rest of the world get caught in the crossfire.
THE WAY FORWARD ON THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP By Dr. Raymond Tanter and Ed Stafford The way forward for the Iran nuclear deal under President Trump is to tighten enforcement of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, aka, the nuclear deal) and impose sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program rather than dismantle the JCPOA.
All- out Unity Against Iran Regime's Export of Terrorism
All- out Unity Against Iran Regime's Export of Terrorism Perfect Timing To Raise The Tone On Iran After enjoying eight years of active appeasement, engagement and rapprochement from the U.S. under the tenure of President Barack Obama, Iran is beginning to feel the heat, significantly to say the least, in the wake of increasingly harsh remarks made by a slate of American and international correspondents. And with crucial presidential elections looming just around the corner as scheduled for May the 19th, this rise in the tone of the international community couldn’t come at a worst timing for Iran. Wrote Heshmat Alavi, in Forbes on April 1, 2017 and the article continues as follows:
Why Iran Regime's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Should Be Blacklisted? Harassment of U.S. Naval forces by Iranian forces in international waters of the Persian Gulf reveals that Iran’s leadership is prepared to test the new administration : on its publicly stated commitment to confront Iran when it fails to meet its obligations under the JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), when it violates United Nations sanctions, or when it engages in destabilizing activities in the region. Raymond Tanter and Ed Stafford wrote in ‘The Hill’ on March 12, 2017 and the article continues as follows:
IRAN IS TESTING PRESIDENT TRUMP: HERE’S WHAT HE SHOULD DO. By Raymond Tanter and Edward Stafford Harassment of U.S. Naval forces by Iranian forces in international waters of the Persian Gulf reveals that Iran’s leadership is prepared to test the new administration: on its publicly stated commitment to confront Iran when it fails to meet its obligations under the JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), when it violates United Nations sanctions, or when it engages in destabilizing activities in the region. Given the other actors involved with the JCPOA and U.N. sanctions on ballistic missiles, Washington has only a few unilateral options for confronting Iranian misbehavior.
Harassment of U.S. Naval forces by Iranian forces in international waters of the Persian Gulf reveals that Iran’s leadership is prepared to test the new administration: on its publicly stated commitment to confront Iran when it fails to meet its obligations under the JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), when it violates United Nations sanctions, or when it engages in destabilizing activities in the region. http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/foreign-policy/323416-iran-is-testing-president-trump-heres-what-he-should-do
IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL DILEMMAS FUELING ELECTIONS STANDOFF Ahead of elections later this year, Iranian politics remains riven by disagreement over the 2015 nuclear deal. By Heshmat Alavi Tensions are intensifying quickly in Iranian politics. Recent comments by senior U.S. officials, such as Ambassador Nikki Haley and CENTCOM chief General Joseph Votel , explaining the threats posed by Tehran have resulted in an intensified domestic political debate. The atmosphere has sparked a major standoff within the regime prior to sensitive presidential elections in May.
STUDY REVEALS DESTRUCTIVE ROLE OF IRGC IN 14 COUNTRIES Asharq Al-Awsat - march 11.2017 - The International Committee In Search of Justice (ISJ) has published its new report jointly prepared with European Iraqi Freedom Association (EIFA) titled “Destructive role of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in the Middle East.” The study established that the IRGC is directly involved in the hidden occupation of four particular countries: Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon. In all four, the IRGC has a direct, considerable military presence — In the summer of 2016, there were close to 70,000 Iranian regime proxy forces present in Syria.
ranian media are waging an online war against an opposition group - some whose members live in exile in Albania - launching new websites in Albanian to influence local opinion. By Fatjona Mejdini he People's Mujahedin of Iran is a controversial resistance group. Founded in 1965 as a left-leaning opposition to the Shah’s regime, it turned against the Islamic Republic following the 1979 Revolution. The US listed it as a terrorist organisation in 1997 but it was removed from the black list in 2012 after it renounced violence. The Albanian authorities have declined to give the exact number of MEK members and their families who found refuge in the country, but estimates suggest there are about 2,000.
Reformists in Iran are under pressure , detainees face torture and abuse, and people are being executed at an "alarming" rate, a UN monitor studying human rights in the tightly controlled country says. The bleak picture presented to the UN Human Rights Council on March 13 comes ahead of a May 19 presidential election in Iran. "All reports indicate a high level of control over citizens and that democratic space is severely limited," Asma Jahangir, the UN special rapporteur for Iran, told the council in Geneva. Jahangir did not refer directly to the election, but she noted that three opposition figures who publicly challenged the official results of Iran's 2009 presidential election -- former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Musavi; his wife, university professor Zahra Rahnavard; and reformist cleric Mehdi Karrubi -- have been kept under house arrest for nearly six years without being formally charged.
