New Sanctions on Iran are a Start, but not Enough

Following Iran’s brutal missile attack on Israel earlier this month, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced further sanctions on two Iranian individuals, and two organizations. Included in the sanctions is Iranian Minister of Defence Reza Ashtiani. The sanctions prevent the individuals from entering Canada, and the individuals and organizations from having economic ties in Canada.

In addition to Iran’s perennial threat to Canada’s regional security allies in the Middle East, the Iranian regime continues to harm Canadians. On January 8, 2020, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), a radical militant branch of the Iranian regime, downed Ukraine International Airlines Flight 572, killing all 76 on board including 63 Canadian nationals. Two years later, Prime Minister Trudeau announced sanctions on some 10,000 individuals related to the IRGC and Iranian regime, barring them from entering Canada.

In 2018, the House of Commons carried an opposition motion to declare the IRGC a terrorist organization per the meaning of the Criminal Code. Minister Joly voted for the motion. However, the Government of Canada has yet to act on this motion. Last week, Conservative MP Garret Genuis presented a petition to designate the group a terrorist organization, citing the 2018 motion. NDP leader Jaghmeet Singh stated that he believed the IRGC should be listed as a terrorist organization. As such, the motion will likely pass, but it is up to the Liberal government to enact it.

Designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization would make it illegal for Canadians to participate in their activities, give funds to, or receive funds from the IRGC. This is an important step, as it could help crack down on the regime’s presence in Canada. Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP Goldie Ghamari has described Canada as a “safe have” for regime officials and sympathizers. Hundreds of IRGC agents are thought to be operating in Canada and are threatening the Iranian diaspora in Canada. Outlawing the IRGC is a necessary step to keeping Canadians safe from the brutal regime: the regime is thought to have committed up to 360 assassinations since seizing power.

Regardless of whether or not the Liberal government designates the IRGC as a terrorist organization, the IRGC’s disregard for international law, illegal operations in Canada, and murder of 63 Canadians in 2020 demonstrate that further action need to be taken against the regime, by outlawing the IRGC in Canada and imposing further economic sanctions on the country. 

Sources and further Reading:

https://globalnews.ca/news/10076891/iran-dissidents-threats-canada/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-sanctions-iran-missile-attack-iran-1.7184984

https://twitter.com/gghamari/highlights

https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-4145