Canada sanctions Iranian regime for continued human rights violations

May 3, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations. This is the 11th package of sanctions imposed by Canada against the Iranian regime since October 2022, and builds on Canada’s efforts to align with recent designations announced by the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Today’s sanctions list one entity and nine individuals for their role in gross and systematic human rights violations in Iran and abroad. The entity listed today exemplifies the regime’s brutality and disregard of human rights as it is the site of a record number of state executions.

The individuals listed include members of the so-called Morality Police unit that arrested Mahsa Amini, whose death sparked widespread anti-regime protests, and a deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces in Sistan and Baluchistan Province, where violent clampdowns against protests resulted in the death of dozens of civilians.

Canada is also taking action against the senior leadership of Paravar Pars, a key Iranian drone producer that is supporting Russia’s unjustifiable and full-scale invasion of Ukraine by supplying President Putin with drones.

The list of those sanctioned includes, but is not limited to:

• Abualfazl Nazeri, Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, Paravar Pars
• Mohsen Asadi, member, Board of Directors, Paravar Pars
• Mohammad Sadegh Heidari Mousa, member, Board of Directors, Paravar Pars
• Mohammad Reza Mohammadi, member, Board of Directors, Paravar Pars
• Enayatollah Rafiei, member of squad that arrested Mahsa Amini
• Fatemeh Ghorban-Hosseini, member of squad that arrested Mahsa Amini
• Parastou Safari, member of squad that arrested Mahsa Amini
• Ali Khoshnamvand, member of squad that arrested Mahsa Amini
• Parviz Absalan, Deputy Head, IRGC, in Sistan and Baluchestan Province
• Rajaei Shahr Prison, site of state executions

Today’s measures prohibit dealings with these 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 inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Canada is committed to standing with the Iranian people as they courageously defend their human rights and freedoms. We will continue pursuing those who support the Iranian regime’s egregious actions against its people and ensure a coordinated approach with the international community.