The Islamic Republic's threats to critics in Canada could grow in 2025, with Iran using organized crime networks to intimidate and harm them, Canada’s intelligence agency warned on Saturday.
“Iranian threat-related activities directed at Canada and its allies are likely to continue in 2025 and may increase depending on developments in the Middle East and the Iranian regime’s own threat perceptions,” the Canadian Security Intelligence Service said in a statement.
The CSIS told The Globe and Mail on Saturday it is actively investigating death threats in Canada linked to the Islamic Republic.
“Given the need to protect our sources, tradecraft and methods, however, we cannot confirm or deny specific investigative details,” said CSIS spokesperson Magali Hébert.
The agency’s warning follows an announcement by Iran International that two of its Canada-based journalists were targeted by the Islamic Republic in recent weeks.
"It's very, very intense and very threatening," Adam Baillie, spokesman for Iran International, told The Canadian Press.
"People get all sorts of messages of, 'We know where you live, remember we watch you, remember we know all about you, we know where your family lives.' It's that kind of thing," Baillie said.
UN appeal over threats to journalists
On Tuesday, Iran International filed an urgent appeal with United Nations experts urging them to take action against Iran over serious risks to the lives and safety of their journalists worldwide and relatives inside Iran.
Over the past six weeks, the Iranian authorities have intimidated and threatened 45 journalists and 315 of their family members with death unless they stop working for Iran International by specific deadlines, Iran International said in a statement.
Carlos Nagore Diaz, spokesperson for UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression Irene Khan, said “several UN Special Rapporteurs are considering taking urgent action on the renewed credible threats to life,” but confirmed that “any communications with the Iranian regime are currently confidential.”
In its reply to the UN, Iran’s permanent mission rejected “allegations made about the threats or kidnapping plans” and described Iran International as “an anti-Iranian network” whose operatives “will be dealt with according to the relevant laws.”
UN rapporteurs wrote in May 2024 that intimidation of the channel’s staff “may amount to violations of the sovereignty” of the countries in which they operate.
In March 2023, Iran International presenter Pouria Zeraati was stabbed in London. Two Romanian nationals were later charged.
In late June, IRGC forces in Tehran detained the family of another Iran International presenter to pressure them into ending their cooperation with the network.
CSIS’s warning also comes after an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate former Canadian justice minister Irwin Cotler, which the Royal Canadian Mounted Police says it foiled last year. Cotler remains under 24-hour police protection.
Last week, Canada joined Britain, the US, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark in condemning what they called “a growing number of threats from Iranian intelligence services on their soil,” including collaboration with organized crime networks to target dissidents.
