Iran: Canada imposes new sanctions over human rights abuses, drones

The Canadian government has imposed a new round of sanctions on Iran over its human rights abuses and the supply of drones to Russia. The new sanctions come amidst intense scrutiny of Tehran for the ongoing anti-government protests and its alleged involvement in the war in Ukraine.

The Canadian foreign ministry announced in a statement on Monday that it was imposing a new set of sanctions against Iran. The new sanctions target two entities and eight individuals, the 10th round of sanctions against Iran overall since October last year as a result of the widespread anti-government protests. The new penalties target senior officials in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and security forces “for gross systematic human rights violations in Tehran and in Kurdish and Azeri areas of northwestern Iran,” as well as officials involved in the manufacturing of ballistic missiles and drones.

“The sanctioned entities support the Iranian regime by helping them disrupt and manipulate the online communications of those protesting the regime or by supplying the LEF with tactical equipment used in the brutal suppression of demonstrations,” said Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly, referring to the Law Enforcement Forces.

Iran was sanctioned by the West for its efforts to crack down on the widespread protests that were triggered by the death of Kurdish Iranian Mahsa Amini, who died while in the custody of the morality police. Amini died days after she was arrested for allegedly flouting the Islamic dress code, sparking public outrage.

Iran came under additional scrutiny for allegedly supplying drones to Russia for use in the war. Tehran has denied selling drones to Moscow.

On the same day, the White House said the United States would not back down from its ongoing deployment in Syria as it continues to combat Islamic State despite attacks on US forces by Iran-backed militia. This follows a drone strike on a US base in Syria on March 23, which killed one and injured six, including US troops.

Washington carried out a retaliatory drone strike and opened fire that, killed three Syrian troops, 11 Syrian pro-government militia fighters, and five non-Syrian pro-government fighters.