New sanctions against senior Iranian officials

Canada has added 25 senior Iranian regime officials and nine entities to its list of sanctioned individuals, including the army chief of staff, following a crackdown on protesters who resent the rigidity of Islamic laws . Minister Mélanie Joly promises others “soon”.

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« These sanctions are taken in response to the serious human rights violations that have been committed in Iran, including the systematic persecution of women, and more specifically the shocking actions committed by Iran’s so-called ‘morals police’, which led to the death of Mahsa Amini while she was in his custody,” Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said in a statement.

In addition, there are nine entities « which directly implement repressive measures, violate human rights and disseminate propaganda and disinformation of the Iranian regime ».

According to Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), the government crackdown has claimed at least 92 lives as of Sunday in the Middle Eastern country since protests began more than two years ago. weeks.

Minister Joly denounced Iran’s « impunity » not only in this case, but also in that of Ukrainian Airlines flight PS752, on which 167 people lost their lives after the plane was shot down shortly after take off from Tehran.

Most of the individuals targeted by this new round of sanctions belong to the country’s armed forces, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), or to police institutions.

Also on the list is Mohammad Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi, director of the morality police, or « morality police », the institution that ensures compliance with Islamic laws, such as the wearing of the veil.

The sanctions are essentially aimed at the freezing of assets in Canada, as well as the banning of entry into Canada.

“Our message to Iran is clear: the continued and systemic persecution of Iranian women must end, and Iran will be held to account for its human rights abuses and blatant disregard for human life. Canada salutes the courage and actions of the Iranian people and will support them in their fight for their rights and dignity,” added Minister Joly.

The Trudeau government refuses for the moment to include the IRGC on the list of terrorist entities, as the Conservatives have been demanding for several years.