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Recent investigations have revealed that twenty alleged high-ranking members of the Iranian regime are currently residing in Canada, as confirmed by immigration officials during an electoral debate addressing the country’s stance towards the Islamic Republic.
One such individual, an Iranian citizen, is due to present his case before the Immigration and Refugee Board in June after the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) accused him of holding a prominent position within Tehran’s regime. Although his name was initially made available to Global News, the refugee board later requested that it remain confidential due to the private nature of his deportation hearing.
A man residing in Vancouver, who was identified in local media as having been associated with Iran’s oil ministry, opted not to comment when approached by Global News. The CBSA refrained from providing further details regarding the case.
This individual is among the latest Iranian nationals earmarked for deportation since Canada initiated a crackdown in 2022 targeting alleged senior officials from the Iranian regime present in the nation.
Immigration enforcement authorities are directing these cases to the refugee board, which has been conducting hearings to determine their potential deportation. However, these proceedings have largely taken place in private, progressing at a slow pace and resulting in only one successful deportation so far, although a few regime affiliates have exited Canada voluntarily.
“The presence of individuals linked to the highest levels of Iran’s regime in our communities certainly raises security concerns,” stated Kaveh Shahrooz, a Toronto-based human rights attorney. “It poses risks not just to Canadian citizens but also to the Iranian diaspora, many of whom sought refuge from the oppressive regime they fled. Their presence can create an atmosphere of intimidation for those seeking safety.”
Political Responses to Iran
Over ten years have passed since Canada severed diplomatic relations with Iran, and it seems likely that the nation will continue to be a significant challenge in terms of national security and foreign policy for any incoming government.
Iran has long instigated instability in the Middle East, providing training, arms, and resources to groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Iraqi Shiite militias, and Yemen’s Houthis, all while supplying attack drones to Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In Canada, Iranian operatives have engaged in activities including money laundering and evading international sanctions, while inquiries into foreign interference have uncovered attempts by the Iranian regime to undermine dissent within the diaspora community. Notably, the RCMP alerted former Liberal MP and justice minister Irwin Cotler last October about a potential assassination plot linked to Iran.
Discussions surrounding Iran emerged prominently during federal leaders’ debates, with Conservatives stressing Iran’s role in the deadly Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, a sentiment echoed by Liberal representatives who acknowledged the regime as a “fundamental risk.” As the election focused on wider issues, Global News sought clarity from major political parties on their strategic approach toward Iran.
See the full party responses here.
The Conservative Party pledged to “stand with the long-suffering people of Iran,” criticizing the Liberal government for delays in listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. A potential government led by Pierre Poilievre would reinforce sanctions against Iran and aim to reduce international dependency on Iranian oil by boosting Canadian oil exports.
“Our efforts will focus on preventing regime members from entering Canada and aiming to combat the regime’s money laundering activities within the Canadian financial system,” the party asserted.
In response, the Liberal government noted that previous administrations had already classified the Houthis, the Revolutionary Guard, and Samadoun as terrorist groups and committed to collaborating with national security agencies to target additional terrorist organizations and their affiliates. They emphasized that the Iranian regime poses a threat to global peace and security through its armed forces and support for allied groups.
Mark Carney, the Liberal spokesperson, indicated that a future Liberal government would persist in holding the Iranian regime accountable for the downing of a commercial airliner in 2020, an incident that resulted in the tragic deaths of 176 individuals, including 55 Canadians and 30 permanent residents. The families affected will be offered a pathway to permanent residency, and the government will advocate for financial reparations from Iran.
As for the New Democratic Party (NDP), they did not provide a response to inquiries regarding their stance on Iran.
Diplomatic Relations Unlikely to Improve
Regardless of the election outcome, Professor Thomas Juneau, an expert at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, suggests that a thaw in relations with Iran seems improbable. He posits that both a Liberal and a Conservative government would likely pursue similar policies regarding Iran.
Juneau remarked, “I don’t foresee substantial differences in the Iran policy between a Liberal or Conservative administration. While the Conservatives have committed to adopting a stricter stance, their actual capabilities to effect change may remain limited to tougher rhetoric.”
Shahrooz emphasized that the Iranian-Canadian community desires a government committed to close engagement with them and more decisive actions toward deporting regime members. He advocated for more stringent measures to freeze and investigate assets that have been illegally transferred from Iran to Canada.
“We need to adopt a more welcoming approach for individuals with ties to Canada and for human rights advocates seeking safety here, while firmly closing our doors to those associated with the regime,” Shahrooz concluded.
Source
globalnews.ca