McCain told NCRI members, “You have stood up and fought and sacrificed for freedom, for the right to live free, for the right to determine your own future, for the rights that are God given.” Not surprisingly, there was severe pushback by Tehran against the visit by McCain. Iran’s Foreign Ministry criticized him for meeting with members of the NCRI in Albania, issuing a threat, saying, “Washington will pay a price, for the meeting.”

Maryam Rajavi met with Sentor John McCain at a grand gathering in Tiran, Albania

The Hill, April 20, 2017 - A visit on Friday, April 14, 2017 by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.), to Albania dramatically illustrates the growing role of the Congress in support of prodemocracy dissidents abroad.

A Bipartisan Tradition
McCain is a part of a long-term bipartisan custom of members who back democratic alternatives to dictatorships. One of his predecessors in the Senate was a Democrat, the late Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson. 

A Republican, Elliott Abrams, served as Jackson’s special counsel from 1975-76, and stated, “The essence of the Soviet dilemma [is that] the Kremlin must grant some freedom in order to maintain technological growth but allowing freedom undermines Communist ideology and discipline.

” This perspective was later embraced by President Reagan and his secretary of State, George Shultz.

The mission of all women in the struggle against Iran's religious tyranny

The Emergence of Islamic Fundamentalism

lasted one-and-a-half centuries. Iranian and Western historians who have studied the developments of the past 150 years in Iran have clearly attested to this reality.

Over this span of time, we have seen vanguard women who rose up and proved their competence in various arenas despite the reigning culture and policies of tyranny and misogyny. This phenomenon was most significantly demonstrated in women's courageous participation in the anti-dictatorial struggles over this period.

Women's struggle is essentially the best and most comprehensive indicator of progress in a given society. How can we measure the advances of a society towards real progress and development? The answer is to the extent it endeavors to achieve freedom and equality.
In the absence of gender equality, any political, economic or social progress would be ineffective, fleeting, or reversible.

From this vantage point, the uprisings which led to the 1979 overthrow of the Shah in Iran marked a major leap forward through women's remarkable and extensive participation in street demonstrations. This new phenomenon unveiled the Iranian people's widespread desire for progress. At the same time, it revealed a shocking contradiction:
One the one hand, the ruling regime quickly adopted regressive and despotic policies and caused appalling backwardness. On the other hand, the Iranian society was broadly seeking freedom and democracy, and sought to make social progress and advancements.

Such contradiction led in the first step to a major clash. The barbarity and savagery of the new regime drenched the Iranian revolution in blood.

Iran: Horrible Prison Conditions and Neglecting Authorities

are forced to use cold water for their washings.

The heating system in this ward has been 

constantly broken down in the past year and authorities have taken no action despite receiving money from the inmates for this very purpose.

The food is also very poor in quality, resulting in malnutrition or stomach and intestinal problems for the inmates. Many of the prisoners are seen throwing away half or even all of their food. They are then forced to pay for their own food.

The inmates are also deprived of any legal representation. 

These prisoners are literally forced to provide for all their necessary items, such as refrigerators, rugs and even food. Lack of medical care is also another major problem for the inmates. 

As their conditions have worsened some of the inmates are forced to pay for their own medical services despite the heavy costs.

The fact that Iran’s presidential election is not a genuine vote springing from the people’s will, but a farce show resulting from a power struggle between ruling factions, has become crystal clear.

By Iran Probe staff Monday, 17 April 2017

Where is Khamenei heading with Iran’s presidential election? - See more at: http://iranprobe.com/explore/articles/where-is-khamenei-heading-with-iran%E2%80%99s-presidential-election.html#sthash.z4jiAjeP.dpuf

Currently, with hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi, the incumbent President Hassan Rouhani and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad entering the race, the scene of this rivalry has settled in to some great extent.

It’s quite obvious that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is behind Raisi’s candidacy in an attempted response to a number of challenges.
Iranian MP Hossein Ali Haji Doleigani said in an interview without mentioning Khamenei how the Supreme Leader asked Raisi to participate in the election.
Why did Khamenei place his weight behind Raisi?
Khamenei currently faces different challenges. The crisis evolving over his successor is increasing as we speak. The issue of Khamenei’s death has become a topic even he himself and his Friday prayer imams are speaking of openly. Reports indicate he is suffering from prostate cancer and two years ago Le Figaro reported physicians say there is no hope he will survive any longer than two years.
The next challenge has developed in a new administration taking the helm in Washington, installing significant changes to Obama’s policies and distancing itself from Tehran day by day.

This is how the presidency becomes the main challenge before Khamenei.
- See more at: http://iranprobe.com/explore/articles/where-is-khamenei-heading-with-iran%E2%80%99s-presidential-election.html#sthash.z4jiAjeP.dpuf

During the meeting, Mrs. Rajavi thanked Senator McCain for his relentless endeavors in support of the safe transfer of members of the PMOI/MEK (previously the residents of Camp Ashraf, Iraq), to outside of Iraq.

IRAN: Senator McCain Meets Maryam Rajavi, PMOI/MEK Members in Tirana
Middle East region and prospects for the future.

Prior to the meeting, Senator McCain visited one of the centers of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in Tirana and met with the PMOI/MEK members who were relocated to Albania from Camp Liberty, Iraq.

Senator McCain congratulated their successful transfer from Iraq and praised the perseverance and steadfastness of the members of the resistance and their huge sacrifices. 

“There is no doubt that people in this room have suffered not only themselves, but in the loss of their loved ones because of the Iranian tyranny. 

You have stood up, fought, and sacrificed for freedom, for the right to live free, for the right to determine your future, for the right that is God given. …I thank you for being an example; an example to the whole world that those people who are willing to fight and sacrifice for freedom, will achieve it and you are an example to everyone in the world who is struggling for it,” Mr. McCain said.

 While expressing his condolences to the victims of the mullahs’ tyranny, he thanked the government of Albania for accepting the PMOI/MEK members.

Senator McCain praised the leadership of Mrs. Rajavi, while emphasizing, “Someday Iran will be free and someday we will gather in freedom square in Tehran.”