The Canadian government has launched deportation proceedings against Elham Zandi, an alleged senior member of the Iranian regime, amid growing concerns that officials from Tehran are using Canada as a safe haven. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) initiated the process on January 7, citing regulations that target high-ranking officials involved in Iran’s repressive state apparatus.
Zandi entered Canada on a tourist visa before applying for a work permit under a special program designed to support Iranians fleeing persecution. However, as Canadian authorities investigated her background, she took legal action against the immigration department, demanding a decision on her visa within five days and seeking $10,000 in damages for alleged delays.
Documents obtained by Global News reveal that the office of MP Patrick Weiler contacted immigration officials at least five times regarding Zandi’s case. Weiler’s office later clarified that these inquiries were made on behalf of Zandi’s daughter, a constituent in his electoral district. The MP’s office insists it was unaware of any security concerns surrounding Zandi and supports the deportation of those found inadmissible under Canada’s 2022 Iran policy.
Despite the Canadian government’s formal ban on senior Iranian officials—following the brutal crackdown on the 2022 uprising—cases like Zandi’s illustrate how regime operatives continue to slip through the cracks. The CBSA has identified at least 18 individuals linked to the Iranian regime who are currently residing in Canada. Three of them have faced hearings, with two ordered deported and another allowed to stay. A fourth official left the country voluntarily, while six additional cases are pending.
Iranian-Canadian activists have long decried what they see as Canada’s failure to properly vet individuals seeking entry. The case against Zandi underscores broader concerns about Iran’s influence in Canada, with intelligence reports indicating that the clerical regime actively monitors and threatens dissidents abroad. Additionally, Canada-based crime networks have facilitated Tehran’s evasion of international sanctions, raising alarms about national security vulnerabilities.
As public pressure mounts, calls are growing for the Canadian government to strengthen its enforcement mechanisms, enhance screening procedures, and expedite the removal of individuals with ties to Tehran’s repressive establishment. The outcome of Zandi’s deportation hearing, which has yet to be scheduled, will serve as a test of Canada’s commitment to holding Iranian regime operatives accountable.
Source » ncr-iran