Canada imposes additional sanctions on the Iranian regime

December 2, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations.

Despite the Iranian regime intensifying efforts to brutally repress demonstrations across the country, the people of Iran continue to stand up for the rights of Iranian women and girls, and a better future for all Iranians.

Canada will not stand idly by while the regime’s human rights violations increase in scope and intensity against the Iranian people. That is why we are imposing sanctions on an additional 4 Iranian individuals and 5 entities for their roles in the regime’s gross and systematic human rights violations and actions that continue to threaten international peace and security.

This list includes:

• Morteza Talaei, Second Brigadier General of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and former Commander of Tehran’s Law Enforcement Forces;
• Ali Ghanaatkar Mavardiani, a senior judge, prosecutor and interrogator of the regime who worked in Evin Prison Court before being appointed the head of the District 24 (Counter-Narcotics) Prosecutor’s Office in Tehran;
• Hassan Karami, Commander of the Islamic Republic’s Law Enforcement Forces Special Units;
• Safiran Airport Services, an Iranian cargo and commercial airline that has coordinated Russian military flights between Iran and Russia, through which the Iranian regime transferred lethal Iranian-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to Russia;
• Baharestan Kish Company, a subsidiary firm of the IRGC Cooperative Foundation that has entered into agreements with the Basij Resistance Forces and the IRGC, to render research services in the technology sector, including the development of Shahed-series UAV components; and
• Javan News Agency, a media outlet under the Basij Cooperative Foundation that disseminates anti-Semitic messaging and the Iranian regime’s propaganda.

These measures are the latest example of Canada’s response to the Iranian regime’s egregious behaviour, both domestically and abroad. Canada will continue to work with international partners to address the regime’s destabilizing actions and amplify the brave Iranian voices that refuse to be silenced.

Quote

“As the Iranian regime continues to clamp down violently on Iranian society, we affirm our solidarity with the people of Iran, who have bravely called out the regime for its human rights abuses—especially those of women and girls. The Iranian regime continues to use fear and violence in suppressing the rights and freedoms of all Iranians. Today, we reiterate our support to those who refuse to endure this repression any longer.”

Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts

• On October 7, 2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced Canada’s intent to implement several new measures in response to Iran’s ongoing human rights violations and threats to regional peace and security, including:
  • expanding sanctions against the IRGC and introducing a new tailored regulation to ensure no sanctioned individual connected to the IRGC can enter Canada, pending the passage of Bill S-8;
  • investing $76 million to strengthen Canada’s capacity to implement sanctions and ensure we can move more quickly to freeze and seize sanctioned individuals’ assets, including through a dedicated bureau at Global Affairs Canada and additional support to the RCMP to investigate and identify assets and gather evidence; and
  • pursuing all the tools at our disposal, including the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, which enables restrictive financial and property measures for foreign nationals responsible for gross violations of human rights.
• On November 14, 2022, Canada announced the designation of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a regime that has engaged in terrorism, and systematic and gross human rights violations, making tens of thousands of senior members of the Iranian regime, including many members of the IRGC, now inadmissible to Canada.
• Prior to today’s measures, Canada had imposed sanctions on 99 Iranian individuals and 181 Iranian entities, including the IRGC and the regime’s security, intelligence and economic apparatus.
• In 2012, Canada designated the Islamic Republic of Iran as a supporter of terrorism under the State Immunity Act. In concert with the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, this designation authorizes 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.