Canada sanctions Iranian regime for activities that gravely threaten international peace and security

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

August 8, 2023 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing new sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations. This is the 13th package of sanctions imposed by Canada against the Iranian regime since October 2022. It builds on Canada’s efforts to align with designations announced by the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Today’s sanctions list 7 individuals involved in activities that gravely threaten international peace and security or that constitute gross and systemic violations of human rights in Iran. These include a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy and Strategic Centre and other senior Iranian officials involved in entities that supply materials to Iran’s repressive national Law Enforcement Command. The sanctions also target individuals who occupy senior positions in state-directed firms that produce lethal combat drones used by Iran’s armed forces to destabilize the region or that are exported to Russia for use in its illegal war against Ukraine.

The list of those sanctioned includes:

  • Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council
  • Abdolkarim Bani Tarafi, Brigadier General in Iran’s Army and Chairman of the Iran Aviation Industry Organization
  • Fatemeh Haghshenas, Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Imen Sanat Zaman Fara
  • Masoumeh Teymouri, Chief of the Board of Directors of Imen Sanat Zaman Fara
  • Reza Khaki, as a primary member of the Board of Directors of Qods Aviation Industries
  • Majid Reza Niyazi-Angili, as a primary member of the Board of Directors of Qods Aviation Industries
  • Vali Arlanizadeh, member of the Board of Directors of Qods Aviation Industries

These measures will impose a dealings prohibition on the listed individuals, which will effectively freeze any assets they may hold in Canada and render them inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Today’s sanctions build on Canada’s efforts to press the Iranian regime to address the legitimate grievances and interests of its citizens and impose costs for its destabilizing behaviour abroad. Canada is committed to protecting global peace and security and will continue to stand with the Iranian people as they courageously defend their human rights.

Quotes

“Today’s sanctions send a clear message to the Iranian regime that Canada will not tolerate its gross and systematic violations of human rights and its ongoing grave breach of international peace and security. We will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to respond to Iran’s egregious actions.”

- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts

  • On October 7, 2022, Canada announced its intention to implement several new measures to respond to Iran’s ongoing human rights violations and the threats Iran poses to international peace and security, including: 

    • listing members of the Iranian regime, including the IRGC and its top leaders—more than 10,000 senior officials—as inadmissible to Canada because of their engagement in terrorism and in systematic and gross human rights violations by enacting a designation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
    • adopting new sanctions against members of the IRGC and the Iranian regime, as well as those associated with them, in addition to introducing a new, tailored regulation to ensure that no sanctioned individual connected to the IRGC can enter Canada, pending the passage of Bill S-8
    • investing $76 million to strengthen the Government of Canada’s capacity to implement sanctions and ensure it can move more quickly to freeze and seize the assets of sanctioned individuals, including through a dedicated bureau at Global Affairs Canada and giving additional support to the RCMP to investigate and identify assets and to gather evidence
    • pursuing all the tools at the Government of Canada’s disposal, including the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, which enables restrictive financial and property measures to be taken against foreign nationals responsible for gross violations of human rights

  • As of today, Canada has sanctioned 170 Iranian individuals and 192 Iranian entities, including the IRGC and key members of the regime’s security, intelligence and economic apparatuses.

  • In 2012, Canada designated Iran as a state supporter of terrorism under the State Immunity Act. In concert with the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, this listing allows victims to bring civil action against Iran for losses or damages from an act of terrorism with links to Iran committed anywhere in the world.

Associated links

Contacts

Emily Williams
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Emily.Williams@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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