The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing new sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations. These sanctions are in response to gross human rights violations that have been committed in Iran, including its systematic persecution of women and in particular, the egregious actions committed by Iran’s so-called ‘Morality Police,’ which led to the death of Mahsa Amini while under their custody. Iran’s continued grave and ongoing breaches of international law are well known and documented, including its blatant disregard for human life. Canada will always stand with Iranians and the victims of this regime, including with the families and loved ones of the victims of the downing of Flight PS752.
These new measures build on the Government of Canada’s existing sanctions regime and lists 25 individuals and 9 entities. Among the individuals and entities listed are senior Iranian officials and prominent entities that directly implement repressive measures, violate human rights and spread the Iranian regime’s propaganda and misinformation.
This list includes, but is not limited to:
Mohammed-Hossein Bagheri, Major General in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces; Major General Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); Esmail Qaani, Commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Seyyed Mohammed Saleh Hashemi Golpayegani, Secretary of Iran’s Headquarters for the Office of Enjoining Right and Forbidding Evil; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Cyber Defense Command; Evin Prison, which houses political prisoners; Iran’s Morality Police, and Mohammad Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi, Head of the Morality Police; Esmail Khatib, Minister of Intelligence and Security and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).
These measures prohibit dealings related to the listed individuals and entities, effectively freezing any assets they may hold in Canada. Individuals listed in response to gross and systematic violations of human rights are also rendered inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
These measures demonstrate Canada’s continued resolve to uphold the international rules-based order, which underpins global peace and security, and to defend and preserve human rights.
Backgrounder
Effective immediately, Canada is imposing sanctions against Iran in response to its gross and systematic human rights violations, as well as a result of Iran’s grave and ongoing breach of international peace and security.
Canadian measures
The Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations impose a prohibition on dealings related to the listed individuals and entities, effectively freezing any assets they may have in Canada. Individuals listed in response to gross and systematic violations of human rights are also rendered inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The specific prohibitions are set out in the regulations.
The names of the individuals added to the schedule of these regulations are the following:
– Major General Mohammed-Hossein Bagheri
– Major General Hossein Salami
– Ali Shamkhani
– Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
– Ahmad Vahidi
– Esmail Qaani
– Alireza Tangsiri
– Gholamreza Soleimani
– Mohsen Razaei
– Safer Ali Mousavi
– Zeinab Soleimani
– Ahmad Jannati
– Saeed Jalili
– Sayyed Abdolrahim Mousavi
– Ali Akbar Velayati
– Gholam-Hossein Mohsei-Eje’i
– Esmail Khatib
– Hassan Rouhani
– Mahmoud Alavi
– Hossein Ashtari
– Issa Zarepour
– Seyyed Mohammed Saleh Hashemi Golpayegani
– Sadeq Ardeshir Larijani
– Mohammad Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi
– Haj Ahmad Mirzaei
The names of the entities added to the schedule of these regulations are the following:
– Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Cyber Defense Command
– The Basij Cooperative Foundation
– Basij Resistance Force
– Evin Prison
– Office of the Enjoining Right and Forbidding Evil
– Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS)
– The Morality Police
– Qassem Soleimani Foundation
– Press TV