Canada sanctions 4 senior Iranian officials over protest crackdown
Canada announced a new round of sanctions on four senior Iranian officials on Monday over their alleged role in Tehran’s violent crackdown on protests and dissent.
Canada announced a new round of sanctions on four senior Iranian officials on Monday over their alleged role in Tehran’s violent crackdown on protests and dissent.
The officials named are Mohsen Karimi (Markazi Province commander), Ahmad Khadem Seyed al-Shohada (commander of Karbala Operational Base in southwest provinces), Mostafa Mohebbi and Hassan Akharian, all described as senior figures implicated in 'gross and systematic' human rights violations, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Foreign Minister Anita Anand said the four are being listed under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations for facilitating and directing repressive policies in the Islamic Republic.
“Iranian security forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), continue to use excessive and lethal force to suppress protests, along with beatings, arbitrary arrests and torture, including in custody,” the statement said.
Ottawa formally listed the IRGC as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code last year, which Canada blames for human rights abuses and the 2020 downing of flight PS752.
“Canada will not hesitate to highlight Iran’s persistent disregard for the human rights of its own people and call for change," the statement said. "It is imperative that Iran investigate all violations in line with international law, ensure justice for victims, and make certain that its policies and practices uphold its human rights obligations."
Ottawa also introduced a new measure last week, requiring any transaction with Iran, no matter the amount, to be reported. The previous $10,000 reporting threshold has been eliminated in favor of a zero-dollar threshold for any financial transaction to or from Iran.
Canada shuttered its embassy and cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2012 over what it called security concerns for its diplomats and Iran’s alleged support for terrorism and human-rights abuses.
