OTTAWA — In a bold move against Tehran’s repressive tactics, Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced fresh sanctions targeting seven individuals linked to Iran’s government. This action, revealed on February 14, underscores Ottawa’s unwavering commitment to countering Iran’s suppression of its own citizens and dissenters abroad.
The sanctions fall under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations, as outlined in an official statement from Global Affairs Canada. ‘Canada will continue to strongly respond to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s attempts to suppress and use violence against its own people and beyond its borders,’ the statement declared. Teaming up with like-minded allies, Canada aims to deter Iran’s patterns of repression, violence, and intimidation.
Those sanctioned are affiliated with Iranian state institutions and are accused of orchestrating threats, violence, and transnational repression against critics and human rights advocates. The use of proxy agents and criminal networks to silence opposition has alarmed Canada and its partners, posing risks to freedoms in other nations and undermining international law, peace, and security principles.
This latest round brings the total to 222 sanctioned Iranian individuals and 256 entities. It builds on prior actions, including amendments to the Iran Regulations in October 2022 following Iran’s crackdown on women and girls, and further updates in March 2025 to target destabilizing activities in the Middle East and beyond.
Canada vows to keep confronting Iran’s destabilizing behavior, upholding international norms, and standing in solidarity with the Iranian people. These measures signal a sustained pressure campaign against a regime accused of flouting global standards.