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Canada has warned its citizens against all travel to Iran “due to the volatile security situation, the regional threat of terrorism and the possibility of arbitrary detention.
The Canadian government updated its travel advisory on Wednesday, pointing out that there is no resident Canadian government office in Iran, therefore the ability of Canadian officials to provide consular assistance is extremely limited.
The advisory said that Canadians in Iran may be closely watched by Iranian authorities, noting that seemingly innocuous behaviors, such as the use of cameras in public places, travel beyond well-established tourist attractions or casual interactions with Iranian friends, may be misinterpreted and may lead to investigation. Canadians in Iran could also face kidnapping and petty crimes, and women visitors may face sexual harassment.
The advisory update came as Canada announced on Tuesday that it has notified Iran of Ontario's Superior Court of Justice’s ruling that IRGC’s downing of Ukraine Airlines Flight PS752 was intentional. The airliner was shot down by two air-defense missiles fired by the IRGC on January 8, 2020, as it took off from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport.
Canada broke off diplomatic relations with Iran in 2012, citing its support to the Syrian government, non-compliance with United Nations resolutions over the nuclear program, and fears for Canadian diplomats after protestors stormed the British embassy.
Earlier in the week, the US also upgraded its Iran Travel Advisory to Level 4, which asked its citizens not to travel to the country, due to the risk of kidnapping and the arbitrary arrest and detention.